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This research focuses on analyzing paleosols, major and trace element geochemistry, organic carbon levels, and geo-archaeological aspects of Quaternary deposits investigated in two sedimentary successions located in the east-central Barind region of NW Bangladesh. Several factors that influence the paleosol development can be used to decipher the paleoenvironment and paleoclimatic conditions of the study area. Sedimentary succession of the studied sections have been grouped into two broad categories i.e., Gray unit/Newer Alluvium (NA) of Late Holocene and Red unit/Older Alluvium (OA) of Early Pleistocene age. Some geoarchaeological evidences have been found at the bottom of the gray unit and the top of the red unit in Durgadaha (DD) section indicating the existence of paleo-settlement at about ∼1300 years BP. The age is determined by the relative dating of several artifacts found at the paleo-settlement surface. Interpretation of several field characteristics and geochemical parameters i.e., clayeyness, salinization, base loss, calcification, leaching (Ba/Sr), aeolian input (Zr/Al), CIA, CIW, CIA-K, etc. revealed that the paleosols in gray unit are weakly developed; whereas, paleosols in red unit are relatively moderate, strong to very strongly developed. In the red unit, the MAP and MAT range from 1000 ± 181 mm to 1478 ± 181 mm and 9° ± 4.4°–14° ± 4.4 °C respectively. On the other hand, MAT ranges from 23.1° ± 0.6 °C to 28.3° ± 0.6 °C in gray unit paleosols. Depending on the depositional pattern and estimated MAT, five short-term climatic cycles (i.e., alternating phases of dry and wet) have been recognized in gray/newer alluvium units during the last 1300 years. The demise of paleo settlement (1300 years BP) due to the abrupt climatic change towards a dry and cooler phase where the MAT was estimated as 23.1° ± 0.6° which is at least 3 °C lower than the present. This study also revealed that the estimated MAP and MAT are more analogous to paleoclimatic records of the Asian regions.

This systematic review attempts to delineate a synthesis of the main drainage characteristics of the Bengal basin through the study of historical data, old maps, reports, records, satellite images, water and sediment discharge, etc. In doing so, especial emphasize is given on the changing scenery of the river courses (paleo-present), sediment supply and water resources as well as downstream impact on socio-economy and valuable landforms (e.g., agricultural, settlement, urban, sub-urban, municipality, industry, forest, etc.). Nevertheless, impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem, water discharge and suspended sediment transport to deltas, eco-environment, human-life etcetera were also considered in evaluating the drainage characteristics. With continuing earlier custom, till now, human lives, valuable landforms and national economy have continuously been negatively affected by the rapid and frequently changing flow path of the largest rivers (Padma, Jamuna, Meghna) with the consequential river bank erosion. Furthermore, the polders, embankments, river training, and upstream barrages/dams lead to cause and enhance undesired channel siltation, land subsidence, severe erosion, sudden catastrophic floods, water logging, salinity, etc., and also hinder sediment transportation/delivery and water discharge to the basin. Finally, it has a huge impact on the basin's human-life, landforms, biodiversity, ecosystem, eco-environment, etc.

Data safety and security have become threatening issues in the health industry. Against this backdrop, blockchain technology has opened up a new window for healthcare stakeholders. This research aims to enhance the understanding of the factors that influence user satisfaction and actual use behavior of blockchain technology in the electronic health sector in Bangladesh. A convenience sampling collected primary data (270 responses) from nurses, doctors, emergency staff, and laboratory technicians. AMOS and SPSS were used for analysis. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, assessing normality, common method bias, validity, reliability test and regression weight analysis. The findings of this study reveal that the task characteristics, performance expectancy, information quality, and service quality of blockchain are significantly related to end-user satisfaction. Performance expectancy had the greatest weighted influence on satisfaction. End-user satisfaction reflects strong usage behavior towards blockchain technology in Bangladesh. Surprisingly, system quality does not substantially affect user satisfaction derived from blockchain technology. This study analyzes the most critical predictors of satisfaction evoked by using blockchain, particularly relevant to the context of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), such as Bangladesh. To our knowledge, limited studies have yet examined user satisfaction and actual use behavior through the lens of IS success, Task Technology Fit (TTF), and UTAUT models in Bangladesh's e-health sector. This study is anticipated to provide an opportunity for additional investigation into the potential uses of blockchain in the medical field and other commercial sectors.

Abstract Little is known about the reading habits and interests of college students in the post-pandemic environment, especially those of the understudied student populations of the Middle East. Thus, a convenient sample of female undergraduate students of Saudi Arabian descent was asked to report reading habits and interests. First, the study asked whether the responses of students organized by field of study (STEM versus non-STEM) differed. Then, it assessed the extent to which reading habits (as indexing reading comprehension skills) predicted college attainment (as measured by GPA) in each of the selected subsamples. Although habits and attitudes did not differ between STEM and non-STEM students, attitudes predicted reading habits differently for the two groups. Furthermore, habits and attitudes were better predictors of academic attainment for STEM than non-STEM learners. These findings underscored the need for institutions of higher education to carry out periodical assessments of their students’ reading habits and interests. Results can then inform library policies and instructional interventions that will benefit STEM students the most.

The “WaterHyacinth” dataset, a recently gathered collection of images featuring four distinct species of Water hyacinth from different regions of Bangladesh, is presented in this article. There are four different classifications: Lemna minor, Eichhornia crassipes, Monochoria korsakowii, and Pistia stratiotes. The collection consists of 1790 original images and in addition 4050 augmented photos of Water hyacinth species. Every original picture was captured with the appropriate background and in sufficient natural light. Every image was correctly placed in its corresponding subfolder, providing optimal use of the pictures by various machine learning and deep learning models. Researchers could make major progress in agriculture, environmental monitoring, aquatic science, and remote sensing domains by utilizing this enormous dataset and various machine learning and deep learning approaches. In addition to opening opportunities for significant developments in these domains, it offers an essential asset for further study.

This work assesses the contamination of trace elements (Cr, Cu, Ni, As, Zn Cd, Mn, Fe, and Pb) in soil and different tissues of the banana plant (Musa spp.), the ecological risks of trace elements using various indices, and the probable health risks using a chemometric approach. Soil and different banana plant tissues were collected from banana fields around the industrial area of the capital of old Pundranagar (the earliest urban archaeological location), Bangladesh. Samples were digested by acid digestion, and trace elements were measured by inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometer (ICP-MS). The concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd, Pb, Fe, Mn, and Zn in soil ranged from 1.50–61.7, 2.42–87.4, 2.00–100.8, 0.25–31.2, 0.10–12.7, 0.60–91.8, 11330–23782, 8.69–105.9, and 7.50–125.9 mg/kg, respectively. The mean concentrations of trace elements in four tissues descend in order of roots > leaves > stems > fruits. The abundances of trace elements varied in both soil and plant samples, which apparently occurred due to the variations of soil parent materials and the excessive use of agrochemicals for long-term banana cultivation. The soil exhibited a moderate to high degree of contamination with trace elements, and Cr, Pb, Zn, Cd, and As mainly originated from anthropogenic sources. Both non-cancer and cancer risks were perceived due to Cr and As exposure from the fruit tissue of banana plants in the study area.

Considering the health risks originating from the exposure of metal(loid)s in tap-water and the concomitant vulnerability of school-going students, 25 composite tap water samples from different schools and colleges of central Bangladesh (Mirpur, Dhaka) were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopic technique. Elemental abundances of Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb in the studied tap water samples varied from 4520 to 62250, 2760–29580, 210–3000, 15780–78130, 1.54–5.32, 7.00–196, 2.00–450, 0.04–1.45, 8.23–24.4, 0.10–813, 0.10–10.5, 0.002–0.212, and 1.55–15.8 μgL−1, respectively. Dissolved metal(loid)s' concentrations were mostly within the national and international threshold values with few exceptions which were also consistent with the entropy-based water quality assessment. Multivariate statistical approaches demonstrated that hydro-geochemical processes like water-rock interactions mostly govern the major elemental (Na, Mg, K, Ca) compositions in tap water. However, anthropogenic processes typically control the trace elemental compositions where supply pipeline scaling was identified as the major source. Cluster analysis on sampling sites separated two groups of schools and colleges depending on their establishment years where tap water from older schools and colleges possesses relatively higher levels of metal(loid)s. Hence, gradual pipeline scaling on a temporal scale augmented the metal(loid)s' concentrations in tap-water. In terms of non-carcinogenic health risks estimation, studied tap-water seems to be safe, whereas elemental abundances of Pb and As can cause carcinogenic risks to school-going people. However, progressive deterioration of water quality by pipeline scaling will be supposed to cause significant health risks in the future, for which preventative measures should be adopted.

The scarcity of freshwater in most of the megacities in the world is an important concern. In this regard, scientifically harvested rainwater could provide an effective measure to this crisis. In this attempt, we developed a cost-effective sensor-based automated first-flush rainwater harvesting system (RHS) to improve the freshwater scarcity and economic development of megacities like Dhaka, Bangladesh. To investigate the performance of the developed system, a suit of representative rainwater samples was systematically collected, preserved, and assessed between the months of July–December 2021 for water quality parameters such as physicochemical (pH, EC, TDS, DO, hardness, and alkalinity), anions (F−, Cl−, NO2−, NO3−, Br−, and SO42−), elemental (Ca, Mg, Cr, As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Be, Ni, Se, and Fe), and microbial contamination analysis. A Multiparameter digital meter and a titrimetric method were employed for measuring the physicochemical properties whereas elemental concentration was detected using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer and atomic absorption spectrometer. The changes in microbial contamination in the preserved rainwater were investigated from time to time during the whole experimental period. The findings showed that the mean pH (6.90) and concentrations (mg/L) of other concerning parameters such as TDS (15.5), DO (7.26), hardness (14.9), Cl− (3.59), NO3− (4.84), SO42− (4.62), Fe (

Considering the increasing demand for edible oil in recent times, their price in the world market is becoming skyrocketing. In this research, we produced cost-effective edible oil from desilked silkworm pupae (Bombyx mori) applying a facile acid fermentation process, for the first time. The extraction was performed using two different types of organic acids, 3% of each acetic and citric acid. The yield of the extracted oil was 3.52 ± 0.23% from fresh silkworm pupae. The produced oil was then characterized physically and chemically to know its suitability to be used as edible oil. The oil was found with a low peroxide and acid value of 4.82 meq/kg and 1.35 mg KOH/g oil, respectively, and comprised of different fatty acids, in which palmitic acid (32.04%) and oleic acid (34.62%) were in large portions among the total fatty acids. Additionally, the extracted oil included linoleic, α-linolenic, and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid which have health benefits. The oil was rich with minerals such as Iron, Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, and Phosphorus with a negligible concentration of toxic elements such as Manganese, Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, Arsenic, and Silver, indicating a good nutritive value of the extracted oil. Overall, the outcomes of all the characterizations showed that the extracted oil could be used as good edible oil and the corresponding acid fermentation extraction process has the potential to be used as an effective oil extraction method for silkworm pupae.

For the first time, this study presents the radio-activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides in a suite of classroom-dusts collected from 23 schools in central part of Bangladesh. Bulk elemental compositions from instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) were transformed into accompanied radio-activity contents (Bq.kg−1). Mean activity contents of 226Ra, 232Th, & 40K in dust samples were 86.0, 43.4, and 448 Bq.kg−1, respectively, which were comparatively elevated relative to the relevant world average value. Higher NORMs abundances were due to the surface soil weathering and aerodynamic fractionations. Estimation of typical radiological-risk indices demonstrates human health risks. Bearing in mind that the greater susceptibility of school-going juveniles & children to the ionizing-radiations & the entering of NORMs-comprising dust-particle into human lungs, calculated radiological indices merely represent the least potential risk. However, in actual cases, α-particles from the 238U and 232Th-decay series can create significant radiation-damage to the respiratory-system.

Landslide is a critical natural geological hazard that causes severe damage to property, infrastructure, and humans. In general, some location-specific factors trigger a landslide. Wireless sensor network (WSN) is an enabling technology to monitor most of the parameters associated with these factors. A challenge in landslide monitoring through WSN is that each sensed data item might be critical whereas the underlying wireless communication is often unreliable. In case of landslides, the terrains have irregular shapes, providing harsh conditions for wireless communication thereby more data loss may be expected. This study focuses on the effect of lossy communication in WSN on the efficiency and accuracy of landslide monitoring systems. To this end, collaborative local data analysis is used to enable each node to decide locally whether its sensed data corresponds to a potential event-of-interest. Through extensive simulations, the performance of various landslide prediction and detection models has been evaluated. By and large, the study lets a significant insight into landslide monitoring before implementing a parameterized application for real-world deployment.

Derivatives of 5-methyl-2,4-dihydro-pyrazol-3-one (1a), 5-methyl-2-phenyl-2,4-dihydro-pyrazol-3-one (1b) and 2-(2,4-dinitro-phenyl)-5-methyl-2,4-dihydro-pyrazol-3-one (1c) have been brominated in various ways. The compounds (1a, 1b, 1c) were synthesized by condensation reaction between the ethylacetoacetate and hydrazine derivatives. All the products have been characterized by extensive use of IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and Mass spectral analysis. Investigation of the cytotoxicity of these compounds was carried out against brine shrimp by lethality bioassay. The cytotoxicity studies of the synthesized compounds revealed that compound 4,4-dibromo-2-(2,4-dinitro-phenyl) -5-methyl -2,4-dihydro-pyrazol-3-one (2c) had shown tremendous bioactivity against brine shrimp. However, the compounds 4,4-dibromo-5-methyl-2,4-dihydro-pyrazol-3-one (2a), 4,4-dibromo-2-(2,4-dibromo-phenyl)-5-methyl-2,4-dihydro-pyrazol-3-one (2b) and 4,4-dibromo-2-(dinitro-phenyl)-5-methyl-2,4-dihydro-pyrazol-3-one (2c) showed higher activity leaving the other compounds almost inactive.

Isatin derivatives are bioactive molecules. To study the cytotoxicity and eventually the anticancer activities against cancer cell lines, a series of dimethyl-substitituted isatin derivatives (4-8) starting from isatin thiosemicarbazones (3) had been synthesized in high yields. Investigation of the cytotoxicity of these compounds was carried out against brine shrimp by lethality bioassay. The present study shows that compounds 4, 5, 6 and 8/ with heterocyclic moiety had pronounced cytotoxicity whereas 7, 7/ and 8 were moderately active. It is remarkable that the substituent, X = -OCH3 has greater activity than the bromine atom in this series.

Coronavirus pandemic had not only affected the physical health of people but also the mental health of people globally. It has developed a fear in the minds of people regarding their selves as well as their loved ones. The essential change in the lifestyles of people and the need for social distancing has stopped the normal activities of people which caused mental disturbance among them. The present quantitative survey-based research has been led to know the impression of COVID 19 on the mental pressure of the students regarding their academic progress. The hypothesis were developed from which one was a null hypothesis; H1, was to find that whether there is a positive relationship between mental stress and COVID and third, H2, was to find whether there is any negative relationship between mental stress and academic progress. Both, H1 and H2, were accepted through conducting quantitative research by circulating an online survey that consists of 14 close-ended questions regarding the 2 research questions made. Respondents were taken from 5 universities of Karachi, Iqra university, Jinnah university for women, NED university of Engineering and Technology, University of Karach, and ZABIST university. The samples was consist of 90 students (54) were females and (36) were male selected by simple random sampling. The statistical method used to analyze the results was the simple percentage method as it clearly defines what percentages of the students were affected by COVID and how it impacted their mental pressure. It was found that there was a positive relationship of COVID on mental pressure that means the complex spread of COVID 19, higher the mental pressure and there was a negative relationship between COVID 19 and academic performance that means that high mental pressure was the cause of the lower performance.