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This work examines a discrete prey–predator model using the fractional derivative. The conditions for the existence and stability of the fixed points in the model are identified. The analysis is centered on exploring various bifurcations at the positive fixed point to understand their ecological implications. Using bifurcation theory, bifurcations related to period doubling, Neimark–Sacker, and strong resonances are studied. Lastly, the analytical results are confirmed through numerical simulations using the MATLAB package MatContM, and a controller is applied to relieve the extreme instability within the system.

The present study embarked on developing soy yogurt utilizing soybean and taro mucilage. Box-Behnken Design (BBD) of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was executed to optimize the ingredient and thermo-sonication conditions such as temperature (A: 40–60 °C), time (B: 5–15 min), and mucilage concentrations (0.1–0.3 g/100 mL) on the responses such as pH, acidity, syneresis, water holding capacity, viscosity, texture profile (firmness, adhesiveness, gumminess), and overall acceptability. The analyses showed that the soy yogurts have a titratable acidity (0.73 ± 0.43 % - 0.85 ± 0.58 %), pH (4.7 ± 0.40–4.93 ± 0.68), total soluble solid (26 ± 3.2 °Brix - 42.2 ± 4 °Brix), syneresis (26 ± 3.2 % - 39.98 ± 3.7 %), water holding capacity (36.33 ± 4.91 % - 55.7 ± 2.27 %), viscosity (1367.3 ± 2.98 mPa s - 2306.13 ± 3.21 mPa s), whitening index (76.1 ± 3.22–82.33 ± 2.18), firmness (14 ± 5 g - 26 ± 2 g), cohesiveness (13 ± 3.74 g s - 23.2 ± 2.88 g s), gumminess (0.7 ± 0.01 g - 1.8 ± 0.03 g), and overall acceptability (3.96 ± 0.16–4.54 ± 0.32). From the variance analysis, the R2 of eleven response variables is more than 0.85, which indicates the model explained a high proportion of variability. At 60 °C thermo-sonication temperature, 13 min thermo-sonication time, and 0.3 g/100 mL mucilage concentration, the optimal conditions recorded for 0.780 ± 0.21 % (titratable acidity), 4.701 ± 0.51 (pH), 10.986 ± 0.76 °Brix (total soluble solid), 27.886 ± 0.49 % (syneresis), 54.687 ± 0.38 % (water holding capacity), 1810.541 ± 5.75 mPa s (viscosity), 23.126 ± 0.45 (firmness), 16.945 ± 0.21 (cohesiveness), 1.485 ± 0.48 (gumminess), 81.764 ± 0.32 (whitening index), and 4.365 ± 0.42 (overall acceptability). Furthermore, the developed models' actual response and predicted values correlated with each other as the Residual Standard Error (RSE) values were ≤5 %. This suggests that our model can reliably guide the selection of optimal parameters for any combination of factors. Ultimately, the insights garnered from this study hold promise for the large-scale production of taro mucilage-based soy yogurt, offering a versatile and nutritious addition to the repertoire of dairy alternatives.

Dietary fiber (DF) is an important health benefit component found mostly in fruit and vegetable products. The impacts of freeze and oven drying methods (WTC binder, Tuttlingen, Germany, 50 °C for 48 h) on the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of mango fiber concentrates (MFCs) of four varieties such as Amrupali, Ashwina, Himsagor and Fazli were studied. In comparison with oven dried MFCs, the swelling, water and oil holding capacities of the freeze dried MFCs showed a significant value. Freeze dried Ashwina MFCs showed the highest (p

Background: The pulp of hog plum (Spondias pinnata L. f. kurz) has been documented as a potential source of nutritional, physiological, and pharmacological purposes due to its phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity. However, an optimal extraction condition for hog plum pulp remains elusive. Optimization of extraction process conditions using Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) technique has recently attracted research interest. Objectives: The present study focused on optimizing the UAE extraction conditions of TPC and antioxidant activities (DPPH and FRAP) from hog plum pulp by using response surface methodology (RSM). Methods: The RSM with a three-factor-three-level Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to optimize the extraction conditions. The BBD was used to investigate the effects of three independent variables, X1: ultrasonic temperature (40–60 °C), X2: ultrasonic time (30–60 min), and X3: ethanol concentration (40–80%) on TPC, DPPH and FRAP assays. Fifteen experimental trials have been carried out to optimize the UAE extraction conditions. A second-order polynomial model was used for predicting the responses. Statistically, the model was validated using an analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The ANOVA results revealed that UAE extraction temperature, time, and ethanol concentration had a significant (p < 0.01) influence on the TPC, DPPH, and FRAP, suggesting that all extraction parameters included in this investigation were crucial to the optimization process. For TPC, DPPH, and FRAP, the R2 values were 0.9976, 0.9943, and 0.9989, respectively, indicating that the models developed based on second-order polynomials were satisfactorily accurate for analyzing interactions between parameters (response and independent variables). RSM analysis showed that the optimal extraction parameters which maximized TPC, DPPH, and FRAP were 52.03 °C temperature, 30 min, time, and 79.99% ethanol. Under optimal conditions, experimental values for TPC, DPPH, and FRAP were 370 ± 26 mg GAE/100g DM, 57 ± 7%, and 7650 ± 460 mg AAE/100 g DM, respectively. The experimental values showed a good agreement with the predicted values with residual standard error values below 0.2% under optimum conditions. Pearson's correlation coefficients (r) demonstrate that the TPC showed a weak positive correlation with DPPH (r = 0.3508) and moderate correlation with FRAP (r = 0.3963). Conclusion: The experimental results agreed with the predicted values, confirming the model's appropriateness and RSM's efficacy in optimizing the UAE extraction conditions. This optimized UAE extraction method may be effective in the industrial extraction process; moreover, further research should be conducted to determine the efficacy of these extracts when applied to food.

Food packaging is often made from plastic, which is usually obtained from non-renewable resources. The development of new technologies, like biocomposite films, has been driven in response to environmental concerns as well as consumer demands for eco-friendly, high-quality products derived from nature. Biocomposite films were prepared by incorporating taro mucilage, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), ZnO, glycerol, and black cumin seed (BCS) oil. The SEM results showed that the biocomposite films containing taro mucilage (TM), ZnO, and BCS oil had noticeably smoother surfaces. The FTIR analysis indicated the existence of a -OH group, N-H bond, alkaline group, C-C, C=N, C-H, C-O-H, and C-O-C bond formation, confirming the interaction of CMC, glycerol, BCS oil, ZnO nanoparticles, and TM. The results of TGA and DSC analysis suggest that incorporating ZnO nanoparticles, BCS oil, and TM into the CMC polymer matrix increased thermal stability. The addition of TM significantly increased water uptake capacity, antioxidative property, tensile strength, and elongation at break, with significantly decreased whiteness index and water solubility. The film inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as foodborne pathogens. The results suggest that the films can be potentially used as environment-friendly antioxidative and antimicrobial packaging films with additional research.

Pectinase is an enzyme having a broad industrial and commercial application. However, higher production costs may be the major constraint for the wide-scale application of pectinase. Therefore, researchers are trying to reduce the pectinase production cost for subsequent application in the industrial processes by using a unique substrate and optimizing the fermentation medium components and process conditions. The main purpose of the current study was to optimize medium composition for pectinase production using Aspergillus niger-ATCC 1640 in the solid-state fermentation.The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was performed to evaluate the effects of variables, specifically the concentrations of Satkara peel, urea, (NH4)2PO4, NH4NO3, KH2PO4, ZnSO4, and MgSO4.7H2O on pectinase production in the solid substrate. Firstly, a two-factorial design, Plackett-Burman design (PBD) was applied to screen the variables that significantly influenced the pectinase production. After finding the critical variables, 15 experimental runs were carried out using a Box-Behnken design (BBD) to derive a statistical model for optimizing the concentrations of the selected variables.The PBD model revealed that Satkara peel, urea, and (NH4)2SO4 significantly affected the pectinase production. RSM results indicated that the predicted response for pectinase production was in good agreement with experimental data (R2 = 0.9836). Under the optimized condition of Satkara peel (8.4 g/L), urea (0.5 g/L), and (NH4)2SO4 (2.7 g/L), the pectinase activity was predicted to be 0.6178 μmol/mL. In the present study, the experimental pectinase production achieved 0.6045 μmol/mL. The study revealed that optimization through RSM could improve the pectinase production from Satkara peel.

he pattern of residential mobility varies throughout the world. Slum populations consistently report higher rates of residential mobility than other populations. However, the pattern and the consequences of residential mobility of the slum dwellers are not well studied. Dhaka, the Capital of Bangladesh, has a large population, more than 14 million of which about 1.06 million live in slums with an increase of 60.73 percent in the last 17 years. The objectives of this study are: (1) to identify the significant factors of residential mobility of slum dwellers; and (2) to examine the patterns of residential mobility of slum dwellers in three slums area located in Dhaka. This study further analyzed the impacts of residential mobility on the socio-economic aspect of the slum dwellers. For this research purpose, 267 households from three slums of Dhaka namely Kallyanpur slum, Agargaon slum, and Karwan Bazar railgate slum were selected through non-probability convenience sampling and interviewed. This study found that residential mobility was influenced by factors which are related to life cycle; employment, income and distress; land tenure and homeownership; neighbourhood condition and grouping issues. Among all the studied variables the most five significant factors influencing residential mobility are slum eviction, unavailability of utility services, marriage, changing job and getting homeownership status. It is revealed that the nature of the residential mobility for the surveyed slum dwellers is mainly negative and it poses a significant impact on the socio-economic aspects of life. The findings of the study pave the way to recommend specific measures for the slum dwellers to improve their condition by lessening the negative impacts of residential mobility.

Freelancing has immense impact in digital age and has become a popular trend as the alternative job opportunity. Studies have been found rare in this area. This study attempts to explore the connectivity between freelancing and unemployment. Through Google form 45 freelancers were interviewed. In addition to these, focus group discussion (FGD), KII and case studies have been conducted to make the research as the qualitative one also. The present government has laid and paid special attention to assist the freelancers by which strategy they can play a vital role in their family as a whole. Without completing graduate degree, anyone may become a freelancer by attaining certain skills. Freelancing provides independent lifestyle, good salary, high skilled young generation and experts in a certain area within a very short time. As a developing country, Bangladesh and its youth are very much interested in freelancing work over the online. But lack of working quality, lack of reasonable internet and the high price of electronic accessories already make a freelancer's life tough in Bangladesh. Moreover, the social aspects are trickier as so many people here discourage to go for a challenging job rather than finding a government job. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bangladesh is a labor abundant country. The development of the labor market is important to bring desirable changes in growth possibilities, poverty reduction and other social and economic goals. Economic development cannot be achieved and made meaningful without the participation and empowerment of women who constitute about half of our total population. This study is descriptive in nature and examines the employment status of female labor participants into the labor market and causes of increased women- participation. It also makes an attempt to examine the contributions of women to economic growth in various ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Society is a complex phenomenon and many types of people are living here in many ways. It includes those autistic children who are living with us. Autism is not a mental disease. As we do not have any data in Bangladesh we can estimate that the numbers is not any less than that of India. Day by day their number is increasing alarmingly. They are facing a difficult reality from the mainstream society, who have always been cruel to people different from the majority. People with physical disabilities, in particular, face with an apathetic, uncaring environment that pushes them into a state of feeling redundant and unwanted. Despite the prejudice and lack of patronization many individuals have proven that with a little help they have much to offer to the society. People with disabilities are often defined by what they can't do as opposed to what they can. Could a person with disabilities have the courage to do something for his/her own profit or for the national and global development in the face of continuous obstacles and stigmatization? But they have some power of their own. To utilize the hidden power of the autistic children SWAC is working for 13 years. Having training and assistance from SWAC many of them are able to take part in different schools and the society and they are becoming able to do their daily activities independently. There future is not fearsome; the earlier a diagnosis is made the better the chance of receiving appropriate help and support and better will be the prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To build up a digital Bangladesh, there is no alternative to emphasize digital based education. The advent of computers, the internet and other Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has brought significant changes to individuals and communities across the world. Inequalities in ICT access create digital divide and social stratification in societies. Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education has been an important mission and vision in Bangladesh. In this sense, the purpose of this research is to assess the digital divide conditions in primary schools (Government and private). This research was carried out in four primary schools of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh about 22,000 primary and secondary school's students are taught through projector and multimedia in the classroom and the teachers also download pictures, videos from internet to prepare their class lecture. From a case study method it is seen that most of the students, who are digitally and economically wealthy, got admitted them in private and digitally equipped primary schools. Those who are digitally and economically poor, become the students of government primary schools. When it is examined thoroughly, there is a digital divide between those primary school students. It is believed that, this situation goes in parallel with the socio-economic status of the families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]