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Lead halide perovskites have distinct physiochemical properties and demonstrate remarkable power conversion efficiency. We used density functional theory to investigate the electrical, optical, structural, and elastic features of non-toxic InGeCl3 and InGeBr3 halide perovskite compounds at different hydrostatic pressures, from 0 to 8 GPa. InGeCl3 and InGeBr3 halide perovskite exhibit noteworthy changes in their electronic and optical properties under different pressure conditions. When the pressure is 0 GPa, the direct bandgap for InGeCl3 is 0.886 eV, and for InGeBr3 it is 0.536 eV. This gap decreases as the pressure rises. Specifically, InGeBr3 exhibits conducting properties at 3 GPa due to its larger bromine atoms, whereas InGeCl3 requires a higher pressure of 6 GPa to achieve similar conductivity. This type of nature suggests that larger halogen atoms reduce the bandgap more effectively under pressure. As the pressure increases, the behavior of the lattice constant and unit cell volume decreases constantly, from 5.257 and 145.267 Å3 for InGeCl3 to 5.509 and 167.168 Å3 for InGeBr3 at 0 GPa for both compounds. When subjected to pressure, the bonds between In-X and Ge-X atoms experience compression, leading to a decrease in surface area and an enhancement in mechanical strength. Overall, the compounds exhibit characteristics of semiconductors, as evidenced by evaluations of their electrical properties. As pressure increases, the bandgap decreases linearly, narrowing until it aligns with the Fermi level, leading to a transition toward a metallic state. In addition, the pressure induces a rise in the electrical density of states around the Fermi level by displacing valence band electrons in an upward direction. As pressure increases, the electron density peak shifts to lower photon energy values. Notably, InGeCl3 exhibits a more pronounced shift in this peak compared to InGeBr3, indicating greater sensitivity to pressure. In terms of optical properties, both compounds demonstrate significant absorption coefficients in the visible region, suggesting their potential suitability for photovoltaic applications. The dielectric constant, absorption, and reflectivity values all increase gradually as pressure increases. The absorption spectra shift toward longer wavelengths. Furthermore, the mechanical properties analysis reveals that all InGeX3 compounds are mechanically stable up to 8 GPa pressure.

Abstract Background In Bangladesh, remittances constitute a substantial portion of the country’s foreign exchange earnings and serve as a primary source of income. However, a considerable number of Bangladeshi citizens reside overseas without proper documentation, exposing them to significant challenges such as limited access to healthcare and socioeconomic opportunities. Moreover, their irregular migration status often results in engaging in risky health behaviors that further exacerbate their vulnerability. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the risky health behavior and HIV/STI susceptibility of Bangladeshi irregular international migrants residing across the globe with undocumented status. Methods Using a qualitative Interpretative Phenomenological Approach (IPA), 25 illegal migrants were interviewed who are currently living illegally or returned to their home country. The author used a thematic approach to code and analyze the data, combining an integrated data-driven inductive approach with a deductive approach. Concurrent processing and coding were facilitated by employing the Granheim model in data analysis. Results The study identified four risky health behaviors among irregular Bangladeshi migrants: hazardous living conditions, risky jobs, suicidal ideation, and tobacco consumption. Additionally, the authors found some HIV/STI risk behavior among them including engaging in unprotected sex, consuming alcohol and drugs during sexual activity, and having limited access to medical facilities. Conclusions The findings of this study can be used by health professional, governments, policymakers, NGOs, and concerned agencies to develop welfare strategies and initiatives for vulnerable undocumented migrant workers.

Social media and climate change are some of the most controversial issues of the 21st century. Despite numerous studies, our understanding of current social media trends, popular hot topics, and future challenges related to climate change remains significantly limited. This research presents a systematic review of climate change and social media for the first time. Review the studies published between 2009 and 2022 in places like Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web-of-Science, Scopus, ResearchGate, and others. For this systematic review, we found 1,057 articles. Forty-five articles were the most relevant according to our goals and study design, which followed the PRISMA framework. The results of this review demonstrate that Twitter is the most popular platform. Every year, we identify rising trends in the number of publications. Past studies often focused on just one social media site, like Twitter (n = 26) or Facebook (n = 5). Although most studies focus on the United States, the study area is primarily “all over the world.” This study offers a theoretical framework by examining the relationship between social media platforms and the discourse surrounding climate change. It looked into how social media trends influence public perception, raise awareness, and spur action on climate change. In practical terms, the study focuses on important and trending topics like nonbelievers and climate change. The contribution consists of synthesizing the body of research, providing insights into the state of the digital world, and suggesting future lines of inquiry for the field of social media and climate change studies. We highlighted the studies’ quality assessment result of “moderate quality.” This systematic review provides information about how climate change is now portrayed on social media and lays the groundwork for further study in this area.

Numerous children experience vulnerability due to their families' profound economic and socio-economic hardships. Among this demographic, females face heightened susceptibility, particularly those engaged in child labor. Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, hosts a substantial population of female child laborers, compounding their precarious circumstances. Hence this study utilizes a qualitative phenomenological approach to investigate the vulnerabilities affecting these female child laborers thoroughly. A total of 25 in-depth interviews were conducted with female child laborers in Dhaka city, following a semi-structured format. NVivo 14 software was instrumental in the systematic coding and analysis of the extensive text data, enhancing the reliability and validity of the findings. This study, therefore, explores various vulnerabilities faced by female child laborers in Dhaka city, including risky health behavior, abusive behavior, sexual harassment, school dropout, unhygienic dietary habits, hazardous work conditions, and substandard living environments. Their socio-economic conditions make them susceptible to physical and mental setbacks, exploitation, and loss of dignity. The study emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive support and breaking the cycle through educational, health, and social initiatives. It offers a detailed portrayal of the living conditions of female child laborers in Dhaka city, providing valuable insights and evidence-based policy prescriptions for policymakers and Non-Government Organizations to formulate effective policies and measures to safeguard this vulnerable community.

The provision of a wide range of financing choices enhances farmers' ability to respond to changing circumstances in their agricultural activities and maintain optimal levels of production. However, several household- and farm-level determinants impact the availability of, and demand for, agricultural credit in rural households. Therefore, the current study explores the determinants of demand for, and supply of, agricultural credit. To do so, data at the farm level were gathered using interviews with a randomly selected sample of 360 respondents in the Mymensingh region of Bangladesh. Additionally, 30 years' worth of secondary data were obtained from various sources to investigate the determinants of agricultural credit supply. Data were analyzed using binary logistics and multiple linear regression. Findings reveal that farmers’ demand for agricultural credit is positively influenced by farming experience and farm size. Factors that significanly discourage farmers from taking credit include (a) an increase in income-generating family members, (b) perceived high interest rates of credit, and (c) negative perceptions regarding the application procedure. Factors that increase agricultural credit supply are (a) an increase in credit supply targets and (b) increased severity of natural disasters. In addition, an increase in non-performing loans does not hinder agricultural credit supply as the Bangladeshi government has placed special emphasis on protecting farmers from crop failures and other adverse situations in order to achieve food self-sufficiency in the country.

The occurrence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria is concerning the scientific community since it confers multiple drug resistance (MDR). The study investigated the prevalence of MDR-ESBL-producing Salmonella strains from shrimp in Sylhet region, Bangladesh. A total of 165 shrimp samples were processed from 55 shrimp specimen from different retail shops. The presence of Salmonella was confirmed by standard methods followed by antibiotic susceptibility testing. Isolates exhibiting resistant to third-generation cephalosporin were considered as Salmonella positive isolates which was later proven by the double disc synergy test. Thirty-nine isolates were identified to be Salmonella positive of which eighteen were from seven department stores and twenty-one from the local market. The body parts had the highest rate of positive samples (30.91%), followed by the head (23.63%), and the tail (16.36%). Additionally, isolated Salmonella were resistant to rifampicin and Cefixime but 100% susceptible to co-trimoxazole, ofloxacin, streptomycin, nalidixic acid, and chloramphenicol, while ciprofloxacin showed intermediate resistance. Vancomycin, cephalexin, ampicillin, and colistin, on the other hand, were among the extremely resistant drugs. Finally, while six of the tested isolates demonstrated resistance against the recommended cephalosporin, three of them (7.69%) were Salmonella ESBL positive in the double disc synergy test. The rising incidence of MDR and the developing prevalence of ESBL-positive Salmonella may put a burden on the healthcare system by limiting access to effective antibacterial drugs. [ J Adv Biotechnol Exp Ther 2023; 6(3.000): 686-700]

ABSTRACTFrench fries (FF) and fried chicken (FC) are known contributors to overweight and obesity among adolescents worldwide. Top selling five brands for both FF and FC were analyzed to determine their health compromising contents, which were sampled from the markets of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Sodium (Na) was determined by flame photometry, trans fatty acids (TFAs) by gas chromatography and heavy metals like arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium and chromium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The median concentration of Na, TFA, As and Pb in FF was 0.45 gm/100 gm, 0.11 gm/100 gm, 0.93 mg/kg and 0.03 mg/kg, respectively. Similarly, in FC the median concentration of Na, TFA, As and Pb was 0.46 gm/100 gm, 0.13 gm/100 gm, 0.053 mg/kg and 0.06 mg/kg, respectively. The study findings suggests that consuming FF and FC impose a health risk among the exposed population.

ABSTRACTThis study investigates drought trends, SPI-SPEI comparisons, and predictions in Rangpur, Bangladesh, from 1979 to 2020. We employed Modified Mann-Kendall for trend analysis, SPI and SPEI for drought assessment, and Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Simple Linear Regression for evaluating SPI and SPEI relationships. Additionally, we utilized ANN, SVM, and RF for prediction. The study revealed notable negative trends in seasonal and annual drought, with the highest z statistics observed for SPI 06 (-2.75), SPI 09 (-4.50), SPI 12 (5.60), SPI 24 (-8.40), SPEI 06 (-5.13), SPEI 09 (-6.82), SPEI 12 (-8.04), and SPEI 24 (-11.20). Strong correlations were identified across all SPI and SPEI indices, with coefficients peaking at 97%, 98%, 98%, and 97% for 06, 09, 12, and 24-month periods, respectively. The comparative assessment favored SPEI over SPI, highlighting its superiority and accuracy. The ANN prediction model showed significant results for short-term and seasonal drought forecasts, projecting SPEI 03 and SPEI 06 increases of 0.02 and 0.24, respectively. However, long-term drought estimation exhibited insignificant performance across all predictive models. This emphasizes the need for developing essential predictive tools for future drought variability.

Abstract Background Bangladesh is one of the countries at risk of natural disasters due to climate change. In particular, inhabitants of its riverine islands (char) confront ongoing climatic events that heighten their vulnerability. This study aims to assess social vulnerability, impacts, and adaptation strategies to climate change in the riverine island areas of Bangladesh. Methods A mixed-method approach incorporating qualitative and quantitative procedures was used on data collected from 180 households of riverine islands in Gaibandha, Bangladesh. The social vulnerability of riverine island communities was assessed based on their adaptation capacity, sensitivity, and exposure to climatic stressors. Results The findings show that char dwellers' vulnerability, impacts, and adaptation capability to climate change vary significantly depending on their proximity to the mainland. Social vulnerability factors such as geographical location, fragile and low-grade housing conditions, illiteracy and displacement, climate-sensitive occupation and low-income level, and so on caused to the in-height vulnerability level of these particular areas. This study also displays that climate change and its associated hazards cause severe life and livelihood concerns for almost all households. In this case, the riverine dwellers employed several adaptation strategies to enhance their way of life to the disaster brought on changing climate. However, low education facilities, deficiency of useful information on climate change, poor infrastructure, and shortage of money are still the supreme hindrance to the sustainability of adaptation. Conclusion The findings underscore the importance of evaluating the susceptibility of local areas to climate change and emphasize the need for tailored local initiatives and policies to reduce vulnerability and enhance adaptability in communities residing in char households.

We aim to investigate the obstacles faced by elderly indigenous individuals in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh when accessing healthcare services. A qualitative research approach was utilized, and data collection was carried out in three distinct regions of the aforementioned area. A total of 30 in-depth, semi-structured interviews and participant observations were conducted to achieve the research objectives. Thematic analysis utilizing both a deductive and inductive approach was employed to analyze the data. The Granheim method and Nvivo-12 software were utilized to process, analyze and code the data. The study's findings indicate that a lack of knowledge about healthcare needs, geographical barriers, poor financial conditions, higher cost of medical services, scarcity of hospitals nearby and communication barriers all contribute to inadequate access to healthcare services. By recognizing the factors that impede access to healthcare services in this region, this study offers valuable insight for policymakers and healthcare providers on how to enhance healthcare services for the indigenous population, especially the elderly. Furthermore, the government can adopt a more efficient approach to include these elderly individuals in various social safety net programs.

Abstract Background and Aims The global significance of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) cannot be overstated, extending far beyond the confines of developing nations and encompassing even the most developed ones. This study, rooted in the Bihari refugee camp in Bangladesh, seeks to underscore the universality of WASH concerns. Methods Using a cross‐sectional design and a structured questionnaire, we conducted a meticulous evaluation of WASH practices with 313 participants selected through random sampling. Results Findings shows the water practice, among all of them, only 4.8% of the respondents were very happy with the water supply system and 16.0% of the respondents were happy with this. A total of 29.7% of the respondents were satisfied with safe drinking water and only 4.8% of the respondents were very satisfied with safe drinking water. Regarding the hygiene practice, among all respondents, 10.2% of them were satisfied with using the same bathroom by multiple people. Only 5.4% respondents were happy in their living environment. Regarding sanitation practice, only 31.3% had private toilet facilities. Among all of the respondents, 13.7% of the respondents were satisfied with using the same toilet by multiple people. Respondents who were illiterate (p

Abstract Objective To explore the facilitators and barriers towards participating in or rejecting human milk sharing among the mothers of infants below six months of age. Methods This study employed a mixed‐methods, cross‐sectional study design. Participants were 279 mothers, enrolled from five health institutions having specialised child health‐care services, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from December 2021 to January 2022. Quantitative data were collected by a pretested semistructured questionnaire, while qualitative data were collected using focus group discussions. Results Of all the participants, only 22.9% reported practising milk sharing. Those mothers who practised milk sharing were more likely to have >1 living child, delivered via caesarean birth, gave birth to preterm babies, and had newborns with birth weights

Dietary diversity (DD) is considered an indicator of micronutrient adequacy for all age groups. An unbalanced diet that contains only one or two nutrient components can be fatal. Given that women make up half of our population and that children are a country's future, it is crucial to maintain the nutritional status of both groups. Thus, the current study was designed to analyze the factors affecting the dietary diversity of both children and women of the residents living in a manufacturing industry-dominated growing peri-urban area of Bangladesh, where an institutional huge vacuum exists, mainly due to administrative transition. We randomly selected 146 mothers who had at least one child between the ages of 6 and 59 months to participate in our data collection. To identify the factors that influence children's and women's dietary diversity, multinomial and binary logistic regression models were used, respectively. Results unearthed that the age of the children, maternal age, and maternal education significantly affect children's dietary diversity, while the mother's education level, as well as their access to and control over resources affect their own dietary diversity. The study concludes that education has multiple effects on women's and children's dietary diversity as it can help mothers to make decisions about how the distribution of time and resources should be prioritized. Again, greater access to and control over resources may enable mothers to take care of any urgent needs for their children. For a sustainable solution, the policy level needs to keep its eyes on the girls' quality education as potential future mothers.

Achieving food security is a global concern that constitutes a major challenge, particularly for the least developed countries, such as Bangladesh. In the context of globalization, the nation continues to have ongoing food insecurity, particularly in rural areas, despite its overall economic growth and development. This has become a constraint in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the established time scale, particularly SDG2 (Zero Hunger). With this consideration in mind, the present study assesses the prevalence of household food in(security) and identifies the factors that influence this among rural farming households in Bangladesh. A sample of 350 farming households was surveyed randomly from the four villages in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) was utilized to explore household food security. The results reveal that only 18% of rural farming households were food secure while the remainder were food insecure to some extent. Using a binomial logit regression model, we found that the household head’s educational level, as well as whether the household has a savings account, owns land, receives financial or other forms of support from household members abroad, has larger farm sizes, and practices homestead gardening significantly reduce household food insecurity, whereas a higher number of members in the household increases it. The findings of this study establish a foundational understanding of food security in rural areas by employing contemporary measurement tools and techniques. This addition to the existing knowledge base will assist in the design and implementation of a comprehensive and multifaceted policy outline not only for the rural areas of Bangladesh but also for sustainable development globally.

The current study seeks to explore the vulnerabilities typically encountered by female migrants in the informal sector in Dhaka city. It used a qualitative research approach, purposively selecting four areas from Dhaka city. Twenty-five semi-structured in-depth interviews during eight months of participant observation were conducted to accomplish the study objective. The authors used the capability approach theory to elucidate the phenomenon of vulnerability experienced by female migrants in the informal sector. The thematic data analyses were performed using the Granheim approach and NVivo 12 software. The findings of this study suggest that migrant women who work on the street face a number of significant challenges. These challenges include sexual assault and harassment, social stigma and cultural barriers, financial obstacles, and extortion and bribery. The authors recommend that governments provide access to state credits, social security, health insurance, and other forms of social protection for informal sector workers. The finding revealed that informal workers are often excluded from these essential benefits, making it difficult for such workers to expand their businesses or have a safety net in case of illness, unemployment, or other shocks.

Background The ready-made garment (RMG) sector is a significant contributor to the economic growth of Bangladesh, accounting for 10% of the country’s GDP and more than 80% of its foreign exchange earnings. The workforce in this sector is predominantly made up of women, with 2.5 million women working in the industry. However, these women face numerous challenges in carrying out their culturally-expected household responsibilities, including childcare, due to severe resource constraints. As a result, the children of these working women have a higher incidence of malnutrition, particularly stunted growth. This study aims to identify the factors that contribute to stunting in children under the age of five whose mothers work in the RMG sector in Bangladesh. Methods The study collected data from 267 female RMG workers in the Gazipur district of Bangladesh using a simple random sampling technique. Chi-square tests were used to determine the associations between the factors influencing child stunting, and Multinomial Logit Models were used to estimate the prevalence of these factors. Results The study found that the prevalence of moderate and severe stunting among the children of RMG workers living in the Gazipur RMG hub was 19% and 20%, respectively. The study identified several significant predictors of child stunting, including the mother’s education level, nutritional knowledge, control over resources, receipt of antenatal care, household size, sanitation facilities, and childbirth weight. The study found that improving the mother’s education level, increasing household size, and receiving antenatal care during pregnancy were important factors in reducing the likelihood of child stunting. For example, if a mother’s education level increased from no education to primary or secondary level, the child would be 0.211 (0.071–0.627) and 0.384 (0.138–1.065) times more likely to have a normal weight and height, respectively, than to be moderately stunted. Conclusion The study highlights the challenges faced by working women in the RMG sector, who often receive minimal wages and have limited access to antenatal care services. To address these challenges, the study recommends policies that support antenatal care for working-class mothers, provide daycare facilities for their children, and implement a comprehensive social safety net program that targets child nutrition. Improving the socioeconomic status of mothers is also critical to reducing child malnutrition in this population.

In Bangladesh, many people are being displaced in riverine island (char) areas every year due to climate change and its associated natural catastrophes. This study intends to investigate the impact of climate change on internally displaced char people’s lives and livelihoods along with local adaptation strategies and hindrances to the coping mechanism. Data have been collected from 280 internally displaced households in two sub-districts. A mixed-method approach has been considered combined with qualitative and quantitative methods. The results disclose that frequent flooding, riverbank erosion, and crop loss are the leading causes for relocation, and social relations are impeded in the new place of residence. Increasing summer and winter temperatures, recurrent flooding, severity of riverbank erosion, and expanding disease outbreaks are also important indicators of climate change identified by displaced people, which are consistent with observed data. This study also reveals that almost all households come across severe livelihood issues like food shortage, unemployment and income loss, and housing and sanitation problems due to the changing climate associated with disasters in the former and present places. In response to this, the displaced people acclimatize applying numerous adaptation strategies in order to boost the livelihood resilience against climate change. However, fragile housing, financial conditions, and lack of own land are still the highest impediments to the sustainability of adaptation. Therefore, along with the government, several organizations should implement a dynamic resettlement project through appropriate scrutiny to eradicate the livelihood complications of internally displaced people.

Background: CTCF encodes 11-zinc finger protein which is implicated in multiple tumors including the carcinoma of the breast. The Present study investigates the association of CTCF mutations and their expression in breast cancer cases. Methods: A total of 155 breast cancer and an equal number of adjacent normal tissue samples from 155 breast cancer patients were examined for CTCF mutation(s) by PCR-SSCP and automated DNA sequencing. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) method was used to analyze CTCF expression. Molecular findings were statistically analyzed with various clinicopathological features to identify associations of clinical relevance. Results: Of the total, 16.1% (25/155) cases exhibited mutation in the CTCF gene. Missense mutations Gln > His (G > T) in exon 1 and silent mutations Ser > Ser (C > T) in exon 4 of CTCF gene were analyzed. A significant association was observed between CTCF mutations and some clinicopathological parameters namely menopausal status (p = 0.02) tumor stage (p = 0.03) nodal status (p = 0.03) and ER expression (p = 0.04). Protein expression analysis showed 42.58% samples having low or no expression (+), 38.0% with moderate (++) expression and 19.35% having high (+++) expression for CTCF. A significant association was found between CTCF protein expression and clinicopathological parameters include histological grade (p = 0.04), tumor stage (p = 0.04), nodal status (p = 0.03) and ER status (p = 0.04). Conclusions: The data suggest that CTCF mutations leading to its inactivation significantly contribute to the progression of breast cancer.

Traditional textile colorations and functionalization consume a lot of energy, take a long time, and use a lot of chemicals; hence, cost-effective and eco-friendly natural dyeing and finishing have become a prime concern. In this study, natural dyes of black rice extract was extracted and used for the coloration and functionalization of wool fabric without using any hazardous dyes. The dyeing conditions were monitored using a one-variable-at-a-time technique, and it was discovered that the optimal dyeing conditions were M: L = 1:100, pH = 3, time = 60 min, and temperature = 90 °C. The dyed wool fabric with Al2(SO4)3 mordant shows higher fastness ratings of 4–5 for wash, 6 for light, 4–5 for dry rubbing & 4 for wet rubbing. SEM photographs confirmed the successful deposition of black rice extract on wool fabrics. In addition, mechanical properties, UV protection, and antimicrobial tests also revealed that the treated wool fabric has excellent UV protection capability and good antimicrobial properties along with adequate strengths. The ultraviolet protection factor was more than 35 in optimized conditions, and the strength increased more than 10% comparing untreated wool fabric. The antibacterial performances shown more than 80% reduction rate after 20 washing cycles. Therefore, the black rice extract are very promising and can be considered as the potential candidate for the sustainable dyeing and functionalization of wool fabric in the textile industry.

This study examined the food insecurity and coping mechanisms among the indigenous Bangladeshi population of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region to extract empirical evidence on the ongoing discussion on the COVID-19 pandemic-exacerbated food-insecurity situation. The study adopted a qualitative approach by interviewing 60 indigenous households. Data were collected in two phases between 15 June 2020, and 30 July 2021 in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region. Thematic data analyses were performed using the Granheim approach and NVivo-12 software. The authors used Huston’s social–ecological theory to explain the indigenous coping mechanisms. The research evidence revealed that most households experienced challenges over daily foods, manifesting in the decreasing consumption of them, the increased price of food items, a food crisis due to an income shock, malnutrition, the shifting to unhealthy food consumption, starvation and hunger, and food insufficiency, thereby leading to mental stress. This study further revealed that the indigenous population took crucial coping strategies to survive the pandemic. In response to COVID-19, they took loans and borrowed foods, reduced expenses, changed their food habits, avoided nutritional foods, relied on vegetables, sold domestic animals and properties, collected forest and hill foods, and depended on governmental and societal relief. This study also provides the in-depth policy actions for the urgent intervention of government, stakeholders, policymakers, NGOs, and development practitioners to take necessary initiatives to enhance the quality of life of the people that were affected by the post-pandemic recovery period.

This study is an attempt to explore the impacts of floods on the livelihoods of people in Char Village, particularly on the income, occupation, and also explores their coping strategies. Data have been collected from three villages in Fulchari Upazila (sub-district). The study is predominantly qualitative. At the same time, quantitative data have also been used. As a result, a mixed approach has been followed to make this research meaningful, where respectively quantitative and qualitative data have been collected through a household survey, and focus group discussions (FGD), in-depth interviews, and ethnography observation. The results disclosed that floods make individuals more vulnerable, as such char land people face work loss, two-thirds of their earnings is decreased, which bounds their competences of preparedness, response, and recovery to posterior flood. In regard to this people deal with the situation by taking a sizable loans from various Organizations and loss of valuables assets. These outcomes would be of significant importance for the disaster policy-makers and civil society delegates.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignancy in men and the leading cause of death for men all over the world. Early diagnosis is the key to start treatment at an early stage of PCa and to reduce the death toll. Generally, PCa expresses characteristic morphologic features and serum biomarkers; however, early diagnosis is challenging due to its heterogeneity and long-term indolent phase in the early stage. Following positive diagnosis, PCa patients receive conventional treatments including surgery, radiation therapy, androgen deprivation therapy, focal therapy, and chemotherapy to enhance survival time and alleviate PCa-related complications. However, these treatment strategies have both short and long-term side effects, notably impotence, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunctions, and recurrence of cancer. These limitations warrant the quest for novel PCa theranostic agents with robust diagnostic and therapeutic potentials to lessen the burden of PCa-related suffering. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have recently drawn attention for their symmetrical usage in the diagnosis and treatment of several cancer types. Here, we performed a systematic search in four popular online databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science) for the articles regarding PCa and IONPs. Published literature confirmed that the surface modification of IONPs with biopolymers and diagnostic biomarkers improved the early diagnosis of PCa, even in the metastatic stage with reliable accuracy and sensitivity. Furthermore, fine-tuning of IONPs with biopolymers, nucleic acids, anticancer drugs, and bioactive compounds can improve the therapeutic efficacy of these anticancer agents against PCa. This review covers the symmetrical use of IONPs in the diagnosis and treatment of PCa, investigates their biocompatibility, and examines their potential as PCa theranostic agents.

Hydroxypyr(id)ones are a pharmaceutically important class of compounds that have shown potential in diverse areas of drug discovery. We investigated the 3-hydroxy-4-pyridones 1a–1c and 3-hydroxy-4-thiopyridones 1d–1f as well as their Ru(η6-p-cymene)Cl complexes 2a–2f, and report here the molecular structures of 1b and 1d as determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Detailed cell biological investigations revealed potent cytotoxic activity, in particular of the 3-hydroxy-4-thiopyridones 1d–1f, while the Ru complexes of both compound types were less potent, despite still showing antiproliferative activity in the low μM range. The compounds did not modulate the cell cycle distribution of cancer cells but were cytostatic in A549 and cytotoxic in NCI-H522 non-small lung cancer cells, among other effects on cancer cells.

Goose bone is traditionally used in the treatment of many ailments including in bone fracture. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the subacute toxicity of goose bone in a rat model by investigating some hematological and biochemical parameters in rats. Subsequently, a histopathological study was performed to confirm the presence of pathological lesions in the rat’s vital organs including the liver, kidney, heart, brain, pancreas, lung, spleen, and stomach. Adult Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 8) and were orally administrated with three doses (30, 60, and 120 mg/kg) of goose bone once daily for 21 days as compared to control animals (received only drinking water). Goose bone did not cause any significant changes on body weight, relative organ weight, and percentage water content at any of the administered doses. There were also no significant alterations in hematological parameters seen. All three doses administered significantly reduced the triglyceride levels as well as the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP). Animals treated with 120 mg/kg doses had significantly reduced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity as compared to the control group. There was no significant alteration on other serum biochemical parameters seen. Additionally, histopathological findings confirmed that there was no inflammatory, necrotic, or other toxicological feature seen for all three doses. It is concluded that goose bone is nontoxic and is safe for consumption besides having the potential to be investigated for the treatment of high triglycerides or liver-related disorder.

Resources play vital role in construction projects. The performance of construction industry depends chiefly on how best the resources are managed. Optimisation play pivotal role in resource management, but task is highly haphazard and chaotic under the influence of complexities and vastness. Management always looks for optimum utility of resources available with them. Hence, the project management has got important place especially in resource allocation and smooth functioning with allocated budget. To achieve these goals and to exercise enhance optimisation certain tools are used for resource allocation optimally. Present work illustrates resource optimisation exercises on two ongoing projects in Dubai, UAE. Resource demands of project A & B are individually levelled and observed cumulative requirement is 17475. In other option demands of projects A & B are aggregated and then together levelled, the necessary resource observed is 16490. Comparison of individually levelled and then combined option with aggregated and then levelled clearly indicates reduction in demand of resources by 5.65% in later option, which could be best considered for economy.

Background: The ethanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri contains bacoside A and B, brahmin, cucurbitacins, and betulinic acid. Currently, cucurbitacins have also been reported for their strong anti-tumorigenic and anti-proliferative activity by inducing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and formation of multiplied cells. The present study was carried out to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic activity of ethanolic extract of dichloromethane (DCM) fraction of B. monnieri on two different cell lines. Materials and Methods: The ethanolic extract of B. monnieri was prepared using soxhlet extraction method and different fractions (hexane, DCM, methanol, acetone, and water) of ethanolic extracts were prepared. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay of ethanolic extract and of all fractions was carried out on MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 cell lines. The presence of cucurbitacins and betulinic acid in these fractions was confirmed by high-performance thin layer chromatography. Results: The IC50 values of ethanolic extract of B. monnieri in MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 cell lines were 72.0 μg/mL and 75.0 μg/mL, respectively. The DCM fraction of B. monnieri showed maximum cytotoxic activity among all fraction upto 72 h and was found to be 57.0 μg/mL and 42.0 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: The results showed good cytotoxic activity in DCM fraction in both the cell lines may be due to the presence of cucurbitacins and betulinic acid in DCM fraction.