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Displaced communities living in housing rehabilitation projects in coastal Bangladesh often lack access to safe drinking water. Adverse climatic conditions, vulnerable geographic locations, and poor resource management make the scenario worse. Different water technologies have been inbuilt and installed in these projects, but most have proven unsustainable so far. Therefore, finding the most suitable water technology for these communities remains a key challenge in making these settlements sustainable. In this regard, the research first explores globally available water technologies that use different coastal water sources. Based on this, it seeks to identify the sustainability features of each selected water technology – suitable for the aforementioned coastal conditions. A narrative review process was used to review secondary literature and materials systematically. Relevant websites, journals, and conferences related to sustainable water supply and management were also examined. Findings suggest that sustainability parameters differ for water technologies in terms of different water sources. Rather than using a single water source-based technology, a combination based on a specific context should work better. Findings from this study can be used as a starting point for assessing the sustainability of water technologies in housing rehabilitation projects and retrofitted in possible cases.

Women’s rights and privileges are now global issues. Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh has reviewed all its policies and programmes to remove gender discrimination and to bring women in the mainstream of development arenas to warrant their roles are significant. In the very recent past women participation was emphasized in forestry activities in Bangladesh. Social forestry programme is such an important sector where rural poor and destitute women have actively been participating during the last decade. Data were collected from 100 randomly selected women who have been working in the social forestry programme of the Forest Extension Division and two national NGOs namely Jagoroni Chakra and Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) supported by the Social Forestry Extension Circle, Jessore, Bangladesh. This study demonstrated that the social forestry programme contributed for the livelihood improvement of the rural women through their active participation in the programme. Social awareness, health consciousness, family decision making power, and income generation capability built by the social forestry programme for the rural women in Bangladesh. Sustainability of the livelihood for women from social forestry programme would be an issue, need to be addressed in future studies.

The resistance of the material to a change of its color characteristics during exposure to sunlight, rubbing and washing as domestic and laundry and other various ways are referred to as color fastness of dyes or pigments. In this research, 100% cotton and blended fabrics were dyed with fluorescent pigments i.e. Shining Flu Pink-F17 and Papillion Orange-FGRN in exhaust dyeing method. The improvement of color fastness properties, i.e. color fastness to washing, rubbing, perspiration and light were observed with the treatment of using antioxidants and UV-absorbers. There were eight samples of dyed fabrics (Four samples of 100% cotton knit fabric and four samples of 60/40 cottonpolyester blended fabrics) treated with 1% (v/v) of antioxidants i.e. Gallic acid, L-Ascorbic acid and UV absorbers i.e. 2-hydroxy-4 methoxy-benzophenone, 4-4 dimethoxy-benzophenone respectively. The treatment of antioxidant L-Ascorbic acid and UV absorber 4-4 dimethoxy-benzophenone provides satisfactory improvement of fastness properties than other antioxidants and UV absorbers. The results were mainly interpreted in terms of color strength, visual assessment of evenness and fastness ratings.

This is the age of modern science where different kinds of gadgets are used for the betterment of humanity. Various electronic, intelligence systems are invented via modern technology where FLC (Fuzzy Logic Controller) is used to develop their intelligence systems. Nowadays, FLC is widely used in uncertainty and robust development systems. Two inputs and one output have been used in this paper. Also, various defuzzification methods are used to determine the washing time of a smart washing machine. Finally, the performance of the various defuzzification methods has been compared mathematically. This work has been simulated by using the MATLAB toolbox. J. Bangladesh Acad. Sci. 46(1); 1-8: June 2022

Purpose: The threat of global warming has escalated as a result of industrialization, urbanization, population growth, and lifestyle changes in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS). The amount of electricity generated by various sources is directly influenced by their respective carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions. This study’s primary goal is to determine which sources are bad for the environment and which are not. Methodology: Examining the impact of different energy generation sources on CO2 emissions using data from the BRICS. To analyze the data, pooled OLS and Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) are used, as well as Quantile Regression (QR). Findings: We found that coal and gas power generation had a positive and large influence on CO2 emissions regardless of the method used. As compared to other emissions, coal-fired energy production has a more significant impact. In all regression models, hydroelectric and renewable energy generation can reduce CO2 emissions. Originality: Identifying an empirical link between CO2 emissions and energy production sources is the study’s most significant accomplishment. To obtain solid results, the paper used a combination of QR and GMM techniques. The conclusions presented in this article have important environmental policy consequences. CO2 emissions can be reduced by reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and promoting the development of alternative energy sources such as hydroelectric, wind, and solar power.

The present study was undertaken to assay the effects of gamma irradiation on fresh mutton compared with non-irradiated mutton. For this purpose the meat samples were divided into four treatments. The experiment was conducted on fresh mutton treated with 60Co gamma irradiation having dose of 0 (T0), 1.5 (T1), 2 (T2) and 4 kGy (T3) and stored in 0, 30 and 60 days at -20ºC to estimate the effect on proximate, sensory, physicochemical, biochemical and microbial changes in mutton. Proximate analysis (DM, CP, EE, and Ash), physicochemical and bio-chemical tests (pH value, cooking loss, PV, TBARS and FFA), sensory tests (color, flavor, tenderness, juiciness, overall acceptability) and microbial test (TVC, TCC and TYMC) were done to evaluate the effect of irradiation on shelf life and quality of mutton during preservation. The mutton samples were stored up to 2 months and evaluated at 0, 30 and 60th day. Irradiation increased DM, EE and decreased ash of mutton. CP was decreased with treatment. The PV, TBARS, FFA values and Cooking loss were increased with treatment. But raw pH was decreased with irradiation. There were significant differences in color and flavor with treatment. There were no significant differences in tenderness, juiciness and overall acceptability with treatment. The TVC (logCFU/g), TCC (logCFU/g) and TYMC (logCFU/g) were decreased with treatment. As a result, it can be concluded that irradiation increased shelf life of mutton to maintain nutritional quality of meat. Among the treatments, the highest irradiation dose (4.0 KGy) found the best results in terms of overall acceptability, microorganism control and for shelf life extension of mutton.

PurposeWith the simultaneous increase of natural hazards and land- and resource-vulnerable women in the rural coasts of Bangladesh, large- and medium-scale infrastructure and livelihood programmes by government and non-government-organisations have been plenty. Yet, gender-responsive and livelihood-integrated infrastructure for these women's adaptation against increasing coastal vulnerabilities has been scarce. This paper outlines an infrastructure framework for improving their livelihood resilience in the scarcity of similar research.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach was assumed for this research. Based on a conceptual framework, in-depth interviews and focus-group-discussions with vulnerable women and key-informant-interview of NGO/government respondents were primarily used for data collection at Latachapli – a disaster-vulnerable coastal village in Southwest Bangladesh. Findings were derived primarily through inductive thematic coding.FindingsRural coastal women's livelihood vulnerabilities result from the lack of adequate, spatial/infrastructural and integrated (socio-economic) facilities and institutions. There is a clear need for a community-level and gender-responsive spatio-physical platform to create income generation/livelihood diversification opportunities irrespective of seasonalities, skill/capacity development and sharing/networking possibilities.Research limitations/implicationsDue to case-specificity, research findings are representative but not generalisable. Further research is needed, especially at the intersection of gender, inequality and infrastructure design/planning regarding vulnerable women's resilience.Practical implicationsThis proposed infrastructure framework can be considered for similar disaster-vulnerable rural coastal settings as a development policy and a physical infrastructure.Originality/valueThis case study's in-depth probing into vulnerable coastal women's livelihoods contributes to a growing body of knowledge, highlights their complex needs, and re-conceptualises gender-responsive infrastructure in similar communities' sustainable development. Piecemeal funding for social services will be more effective if coordinated with and allocated to appropriate engineering infrastructure. With access to proper community facilities and diverse livelihood opportunities all around the year (in this case, a multipurpose gender-sensitive infrastructure), communities would be more empowered to self-organise and support each other in delivering necessary soft services.

Rice consumption is one of the major cadmium (Cd) exposure routes for human. Bangladeshi people have historically subsisted on a rice-based diet; however, only a few reports have investigated Cd accumulation by different rice cultivars in Bangladesh. This study was designed to investigate the uptake and accumulation of Cd in different rice cultivars and associated health risks to humans eating rice. A pot experiment was conducted to grow eight amon rice varieties under control, 5 and 10 mg Cd/kg soil under open air conditions. After harvesting the Cd fractionation, bioavailable Cd and rice grain Cd content were determined. Cd spiked as Cd

Purpose This study aims to explore the relationship between tourism and women’s employment in 32 South American and Caribbean countries from 1996 to 2020. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, both static (fixed effects and random effects) and dynamic panel data models (system and differenced generalized method of moments) are used. In addition to gross domestic product, trade, education and urban population are also considered in this study. Findings According to the findings, a boost in tourism led to an increase in women’s engagement in the economy and service sectors. This paper also explores the efficiency of alternate methods to deal with various models of women labor force (WLF) involvement in various sectors. Women’s employment opportunities in the service sector expand as a result of tourism, but in the agricultural and industrial sectors, that employment opportunity is reduced. Research limitations/implications This study investigated the impact of tourism on WLF participation and found that it had a significant impact. This study, on the other hand, specifically contributed to the tourism sector in some specific study areas, such as tourism and agriculture, service and industry sectors. This study also displays that female participation in South America and the Caribbean countries is increasing and women are shifting away from traditional economic sectors. Originality/value This is the pioneering study to discover tourism and female participation in employment in South American and Caribbean countries. The findings of this study have important implications for future studies and policy debates examining the consequence of the tourism industry on WLF.

In recent years, different biomaterials have garnered more research attention due to their usefulness as adsorbents. The present study focuses on a chemical treatment process to improve the adsorption capacity of betel nut husk fibers for a textile effluent (methylene blue). The fibers of chemically modified material were assessed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analyzer to determine the existing surface functional groups and surface area, respectively. Parameters including contact time, dye concentration, temperature, effects of pH and desorption efficiency were also evaluated to identify optimum adsorption performance. Adsorption followed the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-first-order kinetics, indicating physisorption was responsible for adsorption and its occurrence on multilayers. Adsorption capacity was 149.921 mg/g, 149.874 mg/g and 145.462 mg/g at 30, 40 and 50, respectively, and was best at 30 °C. ΔH° was found to be − 1.494 which suggests adsorption is exothermic in nature and thus satisfying the findings that the physical process of adsorption took place in this study.

Using statistical response surface methodology this paper primarily investigates the role of process parameters at different levels (temperature, contact time, and rotation speed) and their influence on yield percentage during the production of chicken feather hydrochar (CFH) as soil amendment. Later, the produced char samples were evaluated before and after washing to assess the phytotoxic effect of seed germination and growth on Acacia auriculiformis through germination index% (GI). The optimized conditions for temperature, contact time, and rotation speed of hydrochar production were 150 °C, 1 h and 105.65 rpm, respectively. The hydrochar yield percentage at optimized conditions was 51.93%. The seed germination test indicated strong phytotoxicity for soil with untreated char, fresh hydrochar extract (FHE) with high doses, and 4 months old hydrochar extract (OHE) but the toxic effect was lower for washed hydrochar extract (WHE). It showed a higher germination rate and growth performance for washed hydrochar extract among all the doses. This study has confirmed the applicability of chicken feather (CF) hydrochar for improving the physical properties of sandy loam soil. Further research into pre-treatment and assessment of hydrochar before field application is required.

In this study, Albizia saman bark hydrochar (ASB-HC) as a solid biofuel was generated by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). Response surface methodology (RSM) identified the importance of variables and their interactions to conduct the experiments. The effects of the reaction temperature (180–200 °C), residence time (2–4 h), and stirring speed (400–600 rpm) on ASB-HC yield (wt. %) and higher heating value (HHV) were analyzed and optimized for these factors and responses using the Box–Behnken design (BBD) of RSM. FTIR, TGA, SEM-EDX, and HHV analyses were done to characterize and understand the effects of HTC on Albizia saman bark (ASB-raw) and ASB-HC in an optimized state. In this optimized state, the carbonization temperature, residence time, and stirring speed were 180 °C, 4 h, and 600 rpm, respectively, with 69.89% yield and 18.59 MJ/kg HHV. The influence of temperature on hydrochar production compared to the time and stirring speed was evident in the investigation. The HHV of ASB-raw was 15.8 MJ/kg which increased to 18.59 MJ/kg at ASB-HC. The proximate and ultimate analysis revealed that ASB-HC had higher fixed carbon but there was less oxygen and volatile matter content than ASB-raw. The obtained activation energy indicated the slower reaction rate of hydrochar degradation. This investigation provides practical insights about hydrochar properties, process conditions, and thermal degradation kinetics on hydrothermal treatment for bark feedstock.

This is the age of modern science where different kinds of gadgets are used for the betterment of humanity. A variety of Electronics, Intelligence systems are invented via modern technology where FLC (Fuzzy Logic Controller) is used to develop their intelligence system. Nowadays, FLC is widely used in uncertainty and a robust development system. With the invention of the Air Conditioner, we live a much easier life than we used to live before. In this paper, we will discuss the way of how we can develop the FLC (Fuzzy Logic Controller) of an air conditioner system using a triangular and trapezoidal fuzzy number. Four input parameters are User Temperature (UT), Temperature Difference (Tdf), Dew Point (Td), and Number of Peoples (NP). However, Compressor Speed (CS), Fan Speed (FS), and Fin Direction (FD) are used as outputs. The simulation of this paper is carried out by using MATLAB.

Introduction: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) or coronary artery disease (CAD) has become predominant cause of death across the world and frequently stable angina, which is the most common presentation of this disease, gives hard time to reach a proper diagnosis due to duality of non-invasive testing. While Exercise Treadmill Test (ETT) is an inexpensive non-invasive modality which may have many output depending on method of interpretation, ST segment depression is much utilized but traditionally less perfect than available treadmill scores. We have compared its accuracy to Duke Treadmill Score (DTS), Simple Treadmill Score (STS) and Cleveland Clinic Score (CCS) among Bangladesh people to generate a local insight. Objective: To estimate and compare accuracy of ST segment response, DTS, Simple Treadmill Score and Cleveland Clinic Score to predict CAD. Method: In a cross-sectional study total 130 patients who had visited at a medical university with stable chest pain were selected according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria over one year. After taking proper history and physical examination their ETT report and Coronary Angiogram (CAG) finding, which were done according to indication defined by their consultants. ETT interpretation as ST segment response and treadmill scores were compared with gold standard test for CAD that is CAG. Accuracy of STdepression and treadmill scores were calculated by the formula “Accuracy = TP+TN / Total Sample”. Result: Among the total sample (n=130) male and female were 93 & 37, respectively. Nearly half of male sample fell into 5th decade and around same portion of female sample was in 4th decade. About 58%, 28% & 14% patients came with typical, atypical & non-cardiac chest pain. As calculated with above mentioned formula accuracy of ST segment response alone to diagnose IHD came about 68.4% (p value 0.004). Similarly DTS, STS and CCS had 83.3%, 83.9% and 77.2% accuracy, respectively (p value 0.000). Conclusion: During ETT relying on ST segment depression alone to diagnose CAD is significantly less accurate than treadmill scores namely, Duke Treadmill Score, Simple treadmill Score or Cleveland Clinic Score. Applying any of these treadmill scores during exercise test interpretation can identify ischemic heart disease patients with more accuracy. University Heart Journal Vol. 17, No. 1, Jan 2021; 10-15

In Bangladesh, 1073 lightning deaths are reported only in May from 2010 to 2021 that accounts 34% of the total lightning death. The mean thunderstorm days are the maximum in Sylhet that accounts 9.46, 19.27, and 21.67 from March through May with the mean lightning frequency of 29.11, 70.50, and 82.55. Seasonal average temperature difference between winter and pre-monsoon in the country is quite high (7.8ºC) with a sharp jump from February to March (4.5ºC), whilst the maximum temperature peak in April (36.49ºC) indicates pre-monsoon instability. The 700hPa temperature shows a moderate correlation of 0.62 and 0.66 with lightning frequency and thunderstorm days, respectively. A strong SLP ridge from the northwest and 500hPa GpH ridge over northwest to south-eastern Bangladesh favors thunderstorm mediated severe pre-monsoon lightning. The low pressure trough over the Gangetic plains of India towards Bangladesh is a very unique characteristics for convective activities in May. The pre-monsoon lightning activity is also attributed by very strong temperature anomaly whilst the associated convective precipitation system is triggered by topographic forcing of the Shillong Plateau and Chittagong hill tracts. Southerly to south-westerly low level jet assist moisture transport from Bay of Bengal (BoB) in pre-monsoon. North to north-westerly subtropical jet stream provides conditions conducive to the development of pre-monsoon thunderstorms and resultant lightning activity. Moreover, CAPE all over the country in May destabilizes the country’s atmosphere with lots of thunderstorms. The precise information of pre-monsoon climatological anomaly can be beneficial for the management of direct-death related lightning disaster in Bangladesh.

This study assessed the bacteriological quality of dug well waters from Jashore district – an arsenic affected area of Bangladesh. A total of 58 dug wells (42 installed by a government organization (GO) and 16 installed by a non-government organization (NGO)) were sampled in the dry and wet seasons. The samples were evaluated for total coliform (TC), faecal coliform (FC) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Sanitary inspections of the surroundings of the GO-installed dug wells identified the sources of faecal contamination. Both the GO-installed and NGO-installed dug wells had bacterial contamination. The median concentrations of E. coli among the GO-installed and NGO-installed dug wells were, respectively, 41 and 21 cfu/100 ml in the wet season, and respectively 2 and

Introduction: Chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is a major complication of diseases involving myocardium. Despite numerous pharmacological interventions and invasive therapeutic techniques, therapeutic options for end stage heart failure remain limited to left ventricular assist device & organ transplantation. Regenerative medicine may bring hope here. Method: This pilot study was carried out at the Department of cardiology in collaboration with department of haematology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, from October 2017 to March 2018. Considering inclusion & exclusion crieteria ten (10) patients were taken in stem cell group and ten (10) patients in control group. Patients in the control arm received standard of care in accordance with practice guidelines for heart failure management (GDMT). Patients in the cell therapy arm received, in addition to standard of care, bone marrow–derived cardiopoietic stem cells (G-CSF) meeting quality release criteria. Baseline clinical and echocardiographic data were obtained and recorded in pre-formed data sheet. Close liaison was maintained with all patients and followed up after 30 days & after 3 months and for any complication. The absolute change in 6 MWD from baseline to 30 days, 3 months & 6 months improved significantly in the both groups. But significant improvement was found at 6 months follow up of 6MWD between the two groups (300±28 vs 375±25, p= 0.04). Baseline BORG scale was similar in the control group and the SCT group (8.1±0.56 and 8.3±0.67 respectively, P= 0.45). The absolute change in BORG scale from baseline to 30 days, 3 months & 6 months improved significantly in the both groups. But improvement was not statistically significant in between the two groups (p= 0.32, 0.45, 0.23 respectively). Echocardiographic observation also revealed a similar baseline LVIDd, LVEF level in the control group and the SCT group which was not statistically significant (p = 0.45, 0.52 respectively). Gradual improvement in LVIDd were found at 30 days, 3 months, 6 months follow up observation but statistically significant absolute change was found only at 6 months follow up in between groups (62.4±1.8 vs 56±2.4, p=0.03). Baseline LVEF were less than 30% in both control & SCT group (29.5±0.8% & 28.7±1.3% respectively). The echocardiographic evaluation also revealed a significant increase in LVEF at 6 months (34% ±1.6 and 40% ± 2.5%, p = 0.04) of follow-up in between group but not at 30 days & 3 months follow up. University Heart Journal Vol. 16, No. 2, Jul 2020; 52-58

BACKGROUND A seizure arises when a large number of neurons send out an electrical charge simultaneously, causing an abnormal intense wave of electricity. The present study aims to determine the frequency of abnormal neuroimaging in children with new onset seizures and to draw a correlation between clinical findings, electroencephalogram (EEG) findings and neuroimaging. METHODS This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Burdwan Medical College & Hospital. The entire study included recruitment of 160 subjects, data collection, data analysis, and reporting. An EEG was performed, using 18-channel EEG machine, within the first 48 hours of the first unprovoked epileptic seizure. RESULTS Partial seizure was seen in 54 (33.7%) children; complex febrile seizure in 18 (11.3%) children; and undetermined seizure in 6 (3.7%) children. Among cases of 6-12 years age group i.e. 94 (58.7%) cases, generalised seizure was found in 44 (27.5%) children; followed by partial seizure in 42 (26.2%); complex febrile seizure in 6 (3.8%); and undetermined seizure in 2 (1.2%) cases. Abnormal MRI was found in 120 (75%) cases; among them 64 (40%) cases were of generalised seizure; 44 (27.5%) partial seizures; followed by 9 (5.6%) and 3 (1.9%) cases of complex febrile seizure and undetermined seizure respectively. CONCLUSIONS 93 cases showed abnormalities in EEG findings, 111 in Computed Tomography (CT) findings, and 120 cases showed abnormality in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings, highlighting the superiority of MRI over CT and EEG.