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Nationalism in Asia and Africa is generally understood as a modern secular movement for independence. However, this idea is contestable. Analysing nationalism in India and the Sudan, this paper argues that nationalist movements there actually had their origins in Islamic religious resistance against the British colonial rule preceding the development of secular nationalism. Depending on political development following the colonial advancement, the secular elite‐led nationalism also largely fostered religious communal nationalism in India and the Sudan. This substantiates the argument that religion never ceased to play the most central role in the nationalist movements in India and the Sudan. Following an inter‐continental approach to study nationalism, this article explores exclusively the connection between religion and the first ever generic nationalist movements in the context of colonialism in India and the Sudan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to develop a suitable method for the production of good quality shidol at the Floodplain Substation, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), Santahar, Bogura, Bangladesh. For this purpose, an improved quality shidol was prepared following scientific methods by BFRI, while traditional shidol was collected from Rangpur, Kurigram, Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat, Bogura, Nilphamary, Syedpur region. In the present study, proximate composition, biochemical and microbiological analysis of the BFRI made shidol and the traditional shidol were carried out during the 90 days of storage period after vacuum packaging. In proximate composition analysis, higher level of protein and fat content were found in BFRI made shidol than the traditional shidol. However, the traditional shidol samples showed poor quality due to the high total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), peroxide values, and moisture along with a promising microbial load; in contrast, the results obtained in the BFRI shidol samples were within the acceptable limit for human consumption. The presence of coliform bacteria in the traditional shidol also reflected the improper handling, unawareness of good hygiene and sanitation during production. The results of this study indicate that vacuum packaging can be an effective method in maintaining the quality of shidol by preventing crosscontamination and delaying the degradation of nutrients. Additionally, an improved BFRI technology for shidol production can minimize the biochemical and microbiological quality loss of shidol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically analyses how Islamization of Knowledge (IOK), Radical Reform (RR), and Maqasid Methodology (MM), three distinct Islamic intellectual projects, attempted to develop discourses of Islamic epistemology in facing contemporary developments of natural and social sciences. Mainly, the paper focuses on similarities, differences, and potential contributions of all three projects respectively. Initially, this paper observes that IOK, RR, and MM have solid agreements among themselves in defining the core crisis of the modern Islamic intellectual tradition, as well as in highlighting the importance of inclusion of Islamic primary sources and its normative guidance in the process of reorienting modern knowledge. Equally, each of those projects presents itself as a new reflection of Islamic primary texts considering current intellectual challenges. Nevertheless, this paper further finds that all three projects have deep disagreements among themselves in terms of defining the scope of epistemic authority of revelation, reason, and spirituality and thereby offer three different visions of Islamic epistemic schema in facing modern knowledge. Finally, this paper reflects how these differences could potentially impact visions of an alternative education system from an Islamic worldview. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around 6,000 civil society organisations (CSOs) have been registered by the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq since 2011. Many of them work in the fields of human rights, women's and youth capacity empowerment, law, and the environment, while others monitor the work of the Kurdistan government, parliament, and elections. CSOs in Iraqi Kurdistan face many challenges that place serious constraints on their work and limit the socio-political and economic roles that they can play. This article explores these challenges in order to make some recommendations to improve CSOs' functionality within the democratisation process of the KRG. A historical descriptive and case study method was utilised for the studies. In-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders from CSOs, academia, and the government were used to generate qualitative data that was thematically analysed. The research findings revealed that CSOs in Iraqi Kurdistan are faced with political, financial, legal, and religious challenges, as well as the impacts of corruption and government interference. The article argues that CSOs are paramount institutions for the development of Iraqi Kurdistan, and only when these challenges are overcome will CSOs be effective in contributing to society's democratic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous solution containing different concentration (0.5, 0.6 and 1.0%) (w/v) of Polyvinyl pyrrolodon-Iodine (PVP-I) complex, a well-known antiseptic; is prepared and the stability and homogeneity of these solution is assessed as per the ICH Guidelines and International Harmonized Protocol respectively. The solutions were found to be sufficiently homogeneous and stable for a year at 25 °C (60%RH). Measurement uncertainty of the prepared PVP-I solutions were estimated by identifying possible sources of uncertainty using Ishikawa diagram and preparing uncertainty budget based on scope of calibration laboratory. The stable and homogenized PVP-I solution is to be used in a clinical trial for the application on oro and nasopharynx against novel SARS-CoV-2 Virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most commonly utilised phytocannabinoids due to its non-psychoactive and multiple potential therapeutic properties and its non-selective pharmacology. Recent studies have demonstrated efficacy of CBD in some types of drug resistant epilepsies in combination with other therapies; comparative efficacy to other agents or placebo has been hoped for anxiety, chronic pain, and inflammatory disorders based on animal data. Although CBD products are generally treated as a restricted substance, these are being eased, partially in response to significant growth in CBD product usage and increased production but more due to emerging evidence about its safety and pharmacological properties. Currently, only one CBD product (Epidiolex®) has been approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration and US Food and Drug Administration. CBD has demonstrated promise in alleviating gut and lung diseases in vitro ; however, its physicochemical properties pose a significant barrier to achieving pharmacological effects in in vivo and clinical trials. Improving CBD formulations and delivery methods using technologies including self-emulsifying emulsion, nano and micro particles could overcome these shortfalls and improve its efficacy. This review focuses on the therapeutic potential of CBD in gastrointestinal and lung diseases from the available in vitro , in vivo , and clinical research. We report on identified research gaps and obstacles in the development of CBD-based therapeutics, including novel delivery methods. [Display omitted] • CBD is a lipophilic and water-insoluble phytocannabinoid. • In vitro and in vivo studies highlight CBD's potential in alleviating gut and lung diseases. • While CBD improved the quality of life (QoL) scores for IBD patients, it didn't impact the underlying pathophysiology. • CBD alone didn't reduce lung inflammation but demonstrated the ability to inhibit lung metastasis. • Further research is needed to develop more effective CBD formulations for treating mucosal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel, degradation-sensitive, adaptive SST controller for cascode GaN-FETs. Unlike in traditional transformers, a semiconductor switch's degradation and failure can compromise its robustness and integrity. It is vital to continuously monitor a switch's health condition to adapt it to mission-critical applications. The current state-of-the-art degradation monitoring methods for power electronics systems are computationally intensive, have limited capacity to accurately identify the severity of degradation, and can be challenging to implement in real time. These methods primarily focus on conducting accelerated life testing (ALT) of individual switches and are not typically implemented for online monitoring. The proposed controller uses accelerated life testing (ALT)-based switch degradation mapping for degradation severity assessment. This controller intelligently derates the SST to (1) ensure robust operation over the SST's lifetime and (2) achieve the optimal degradation-sensitive function. Additionally, a fast behavioral switch loss model for cascode GaN-FETs is used. This proposed fast model estimates the loss accurately without proprietary switch parasitic information. Finally, the proposed method is experimentally validated using a 5 kW cascode GaN-FET-based SST platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parthenocarpy and stenospermocarpy are the two mechanisms underlying the seedless fruit set program. Seedless fruit occurs naturally and can be produced using hormone application, crossbreeding, or ploidy breeding. However, the two types of breeding are time-consuming and sometimes ineffective due to interspecies hybridization barriers or the absence of appropriate parental genotypes to use in the breeding process. The genetic engineering approach provides a better prospect, which can be explored based on an understanding of the genetic causes underlying the seedlessness trait. For instance, CRISPR/Cas is a comprehensive and precise technology. The prerequisite for using the strategy to induce seedlessness is identifying the crucial master gene or transcription factor liable for seed formation/development. In this review, we primarily explored the seedlessness mechanisms and identified the potential candidate genes underlying seed development. We also discussed the CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing approaches and their improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cytokine Interleukin (IL)-20 belongs to the IL-10 superfamily. IL-20 levels are reported to increase in the intestines of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) patients, however not much is known about its effects on intestinal epithelial cells. Here, we investigated the influence of IL-20 on intestinal epithelial cell lines and primary intestinal organoid cultures. By using chemical-induced (dextran sodium sulphate; DSS) colitis and a spontaneous model of colitis (Winnie mice), we assess whether recombinant IL-20 treatment is beneficial in reducing/improving pathology. Following stimulation with IL-20, intestinal primary organoids from wild-type and Winnie mice increased the expression of ERK1/2. However, this was lost when cells were differentiated into secretory goblet cells. Importantly, IL-20 treatment significantly reduced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, as measured by spliced-XBP1 in epithelial cells, and this effect was lost in the goblet cells. IL-20 treatment in vivo in the DSS and Winnie models had minimal effects on pathology, but a decrease in macrophage activation was noted. Taken together, these data suggest a possible, but subtle role of IL-20 on epithelial cells in vivo. The therapeutic potential of IL-20 could be harnessed by the development of a targeted therapy or combination therapy to improve the healing of the mucosal barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Isolated left main coronary artery disease (ILMCAD) is not a frequent one. Though coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) was thinks to be the standard treatment for left main coronary stenosis (LMCA). However, in the real world scenario, multiple studies suggests that treatment of patients with isolated left main coronary artery disease (ILMCAD) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can be a safe & suitable option. Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out for 1 year between '01st February 2021 to 31st January 2022'. A total of 10 patients presented with Angina or NSTEMI & whom CAG reveals isolated left main coronary artery diseases were enrolled for this study. PCI to Left Main Coronary Artery was done with newer generation DES for all of this patients & six months outcome was recorded. Results: Mean age of the patients was 44.1±6.6 years. Among them male was 7 (70%), female was 3 (30%). Hypertension (70%) was the most common risk factor followed by smoking (60%), dyslipidemia (60%), diabetes mellitus (50%) and positive family history for IHD (50%). Among the total of 10 patients, 07 (70%) patients had chronic stable angina & 03 (30%) patients had NSTEMI. Ostial left main was involved in 03 (30%) patients, shaft involvement in 03 (30%) patients, 02 (20%) distal left main disease (Medina classification-1,0,0) & whole segment disease in 02 (20%) patients. Mean SYNTAX score was 11.1 ± 1.1 with majority of patients having low SYNTAX score. All patients were treated with newer generation DES implantation. The post procedural outcome was satisfactory in all patients. No patient developed any Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) during the study period. Conclusions: Left main PCI with newer generation DES can a suitable option with favorable outcome to treat the patients who have isolated left main coronary artery disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a symmetric split ring resonator (SRR) based metamaterial (MTM) is presented that exhibits three resonances of transmission coefficient (S21) covering S, C, and X-bands with epsilon negative (ENG) and near zero index properties. The proposed MTM is designed on an FR4 substrate with the copper resonator at one side formed with two square rings and one circular split ring. The two square rings are coupled together around the split gap of the outer ring, whereas two split semicircles are also coupled together near the split gaps. Thus, gap coupled symmetric SRR is formed, which helps to obtain resonances at 2.78 GHz, 7.7 GHz and 10.16 GHz with desired properties of the MTM unit cell. The MTM unit cell's symmetric nature helps reduce the mutual coupling effect among the array elements. Thus, different array of unit cells provides a similar response to the unit cell compared with numerical simulation performed in CST microwave studio and validated by measurement. The equivalent circuit is modelled for the proposed MTM unit cell in Advanced Design System (ADS) software, and circuit validation is accomplished by comparing S21 obtained in ADS with the same of CST. The effective medium ratio (EMR) of 10.7 indicates the compactness of the proposed MTM. A test antenna is designed to observe the effect of the MTM over it. Numerical analysis shows that the proposed MTM have an impact on the antenna when it is used as the superstrate and helps to increase the gain of the antenna by 95% with increased directivity. Thus, compact size, high EMR, negative permittivity, near zero permeability and refractive index makes this MTM suitable for S, C and X band applications, especially for antenna gain with directivity enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile wet chemistry-based strategy was developed to synthesize orange emissive Carbon dots (O-CDs) based on dehydration-induced ring-fusion of the precursor (1,3-dihydroxynaphthalene) in a dehydrating sulfuric acid medium. The O-CDs revealed significant Near-infrared (808 nm) light harvesting potential with outstanding photothermal conversion efficiency (∼58%) and hence exhibited excellent NIR-light stimulated photothermal anticancer performance. Furthermore, these fluorescent O-CD nanoprobes displayed excitation-dependent polychromatic emissions in the range of 540–640 nm, with the dual emission maxima at 540 and 580 nm, corresponding to yellow and orange emission at the excitation of 490 nm. Various mitochondrial, as well as cytoplasmic apoptosis-related proteins and genes were upregulated during photothermal treatment, which suggests that hyperthermia and oxidative stress have a major impact on cell death. The anticancer activity of O-CDs is likely due to the elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) amplification in cooperation with the hyperthermia effect. This study offers a potential alternative to bio-nanomedicine for cancer treatment by carbon-based photothermal therapy. [Display omitted] • Polyphenolic CDs with extended π-conjugation and orange emission were prepared. • Hydrophilic O-CDs showed good NIR-harvesting potential with excellent PCE∼58%. • Apoptosis-related proteins and genes were upregulated due to the photothermal effect • NIR-induced oxidative-stress in cooperation with hyperthermia, kills cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a novel metamaterial (MTM) with a mirror symmetric resonator that exhibits multiple resonances of transmission coefficient covering the L, S, C, and X bands. The resonating patch is constructed on a low-loss Rogers (RT5880) substrate with a dimension of 20 × 20 × 1.575 mm3. It consists of four equal quartiles with each quartile made with interconnected split-ring resonators; the quartiles are in mirror symmetry with each other. The proposed MTM exhibits resonances at 1.98 GHz, 3.67 GHz, 4.74 GHz, 8.38 GHz, and 10.8 GHz, and electromagnetic characterization is performed through studies of permittivity, permeability, refractive index, and impedances. Power analysis is also performed, and the effect of polarized incident waves is studied. An electromagnetic characterization study reveals that the proposed MTM shows negative permittivity with near-zero permeability and refractive index. It also reveals very little power consumption in the vicinity of the resonances. The dielectric-based frequency tuning is studied by using different dielectric layers over the patch that provides good frequency tuning; this method provides flexibility for adjusting the resonance frequencies in accordance with the application demand. The measured result of the proposed unit cell with the dielectric layer is extracted using a vector network analyzer, and the results exhibit good similarity with the simulated ones. The above-mentioned properties, along with a good effective medium ratio (EMR) of 7.57 indicate that this MTM is suitable for frequency selective applications in microwave devices such as antenna performance improvement and sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential thrombocythemia represents a rare risk factor for ischemic stroke. Uncontrolled proliferation of megakaryocytes sustained increases circulating platelet count and thrombotic risk. Many patients suffering from the disease may have no symptoms for a long time. We present a case of 60 year old lady with ischemic stroke who was a known case of essential thrombocythemia. And the cerebrovascular event was the complication of essential thrombocythemia as she quit treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the assessment of the relation of land-use dynamics and climate change based on the relationship of land surface temperature (LST), normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalised difference built up index (NDBI) using Landsat 4, 5 TM and 8 OLI/TIRS between 1989 and 2019. In situ condition was assessed using ground observations for validating satellite-derived temperature. LST was derived using NDVI-based emissivity method which uses non-linear split-window algorithm. To establish relationship among LST, NDBI and NDVI pixel-based approach was adopted. Increase in LST was observed with an increase of impervious surface and decrease of greenery. A strong positive correlation coefficient of 0.573 (P value = 0.01) was observed between LST and NDBI for the period 1989–2019 along with a strong negative correlation between LST and NDVI (r = −0.431, P value = 0.01). The correlation of NDBI–NDVI was also moderately negative (correlation coefficient = −0.284, P value = 0.01). A section of Greater Dhaka has been identified because it showed the highest rise in LST, air temperature and impervious surface and highest decrease in vegetation and rainfall. The trend of urban increase shows that in future, areas which share their boundary with Dhaka city will experience rapid urbanisation. Those areas are also expected to experience high air and surface temperature as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a symmetric split ring resonator (SRR) based metamaterial (MTM) is presented that exhibits three resonances of transmission coefficient (S21) covering S, C, and X-bands with epsilon negative (ENG) and near zero index properties. The proposed MTM is designed on an FR4 substrate with the copper resonator at one side formed with two square rings and one circular split ring. The two square rings are coupled together around the split gap of the outer ring, whereas two split semicircles are also coupled together near the split gaps. Thus, gap coupled symmetric SRR is formed, which helps to obtain resonances at 2.78 GHz, 7.7 GHz and 10.16 GHz with desired properties of the MTM unit cell. The MTM unit cell's symmetric nature helps reduce the mutual coupling effect among the array elements. Thus, different array of unit cells provides a similar response to the unit cell compared with numerical simulation performed in CST microwave studio and validated by measurement. The equivalent circuit is modelled for the proposed MTM unit cell in Advanced Design System (ADS) software, and circuit validation is accomplished by comparing S21 obtained in ADS with the same of CST. The effective medium ratio (EMR) of 10.7 indicates the compactness of the proposed MTM. A test antenna is designed to observe the effect of the MTM over it. Numerical analysis shows that the proposed MTM have an impact on the antenna when it is used as the superstrate and helps to increase the gain of the antenna by 95% with increased directivity. Thus, compact size, high EMR, negative permittivity, near zero permeability and refractive index makes this MTM suitable for S, C and X band applications, especially for antenna gain with directivity enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This manuscript proposed a unique mirror symmetric µ-near-zero wide band-stop metamaterial shield for EMI shielding applications in the C- and X-band. • The proposed design intends to employ a shared metamaterial structure to serve two distinct microwave bands with extended shielding bandwidth. • The wide band-stop characteristics as well as frequency and bandwidth modulation flexibility make the structure unique for EMI shielding applications. • The simple shorting metallic strip in the proposed structure can control the shielding spectrum from C-band to X-band with an outstanding band-stop enhancement capability of 170.63%, which significantly outperforms the existing state-of-the-art metamaterials. • The proposed metamaterial prototypes are fabricated and experimentally verified their shielding performance and show promising results for wideband EMI shielding applications. In this paper, a µ-near-zero wide band-stop metamaterial (MM) shield is conducted for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding purposes in the C- and X-band. The proposed design intends to employ a shared MM structure to serve two distinct microwave bands with extended shielding bandwidth. The proposed structure consists of metal strip coupled four identical quartiles based unique mirror symmetric resonator and designed on a low-loss Rogers 5880 substrate within a compact physical dimension of 7.5 mm × 7.5 mm × 1.575 mm. The speciality of the proposed MM is its wide band-stop functionality with maximum shielding bandwidth and effectiveness of 4.33 GHz and 66.6 dB, respectively. Moreover, four shorting metal strips among adjacent quartiles can control the shielding spectrum from C-band to X-band with an outstanding band-stop enhancement capability of 170.63 %, which significantly outperforms the existing MMs. Therefore, the proposed MM structure can be utilized for two distinct wide frequency spectrums shielding by introducing simple shorting metallic strips. The electromagnetic radiation shielding phenomena are also explained using surface current and electric and magnetic field distribution. The proposed MM prototypes are fabricated and experimentally verified with numerical results. The promising shielding performance of the developed MM demonstrates the potentiality for shielding undesired electromagnetic radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a tuned metamaterial (MTM) consisting of a symmetric split ring resonator is presented that exhibits epsilon negative (ENG), near zero permeability and refractive index properties for multiband microwave applications. The proposed metamaterial is constituted on a Rogers (RT-5880) substrate with 1.57 mm thickness and the electrical dimension of 0.14λ × 0.14λ, where wavelength, λ is calculated at 4.2 GHz. The symmetric resonating patch is subdivided into four equal and similar quartiles with two interconnecting split rings in each quartile. The quartiles are connected at the center of the substrate with a square metal strip with which four tuning metal strips are attached. These tuning metal strips are acted as spacers between four quartiles of the resonator patch. Numerical simulation of the proposed design is executed in CST microwave studio. The proposed MTM provides four resonances of transmission coefficient (S21) at 4.20 GHz, 10.14 GHz, 13.15 GHz, and 17.1 GHz covering C, X and Ku bands with negative permittivity, near zero permeability and refractive index. The calculated effective medium ratio (EMR) is 7.14 at 4.2 GHz indicates its compactness. The resonance frequencies are selective in nature which can be easily tuned by varying the length of the tuning metal stubs. The equivalent circuit of the proposed MTM is modelled in Advanced Design Software (ADS) that exhibits a similar S21 compared with CST simulation. Surface current, electric and magnetic fields are analyzed to explain the frequency tuning property and other performances of the MTM. Compact size, ENG with near zero permeability and refractive index along with frequency selectivity through tuning provides flexibility for frequency selective applications of this MTM in wireless communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Short birth spacing is reported to have health consequences for both mother and child. This study aims to examine the effect of short birth interval on nutritional outcomes of under-five children in Bangladesh. Methods: We used data from the latest five rounds of successive Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys conducted during 2004 to 2017-18. Short birth interval is defined as birth spacing of < 24 months between two subsequent live births. The outcomes of interest are stunting and underweight. Both bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses were employed. Results of the multivariate analysis are shown by odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Data were analyzed by Stata 15/IC. Results: A total of 16,100 under-five children of second and higher - order births were included for analysis. Of the children, 12% were born at a space of < 24 months, and 19% were born with a space of 24 - 35 months. The proportion of children with short birth interval was found decreasing over successive surveys. Results of the logistic regression analysis show that compared to the birth interval of 24 - 35 and 36 - 59 months, children born to women with birth interval < 24 months were significantly (P < 0.001) at higher risk of being stunted and underweight. Conclusions: Short birth interval has significant impact on childhood stunting and underweight. It remains a major factor resulting in childhood malnutrition in Bangladesh. Research to explore causal pathways and programs to lengthen space between inter-pregnancy should be intensified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a meander-lines-based epsilon negative (ENG) metamaterial (MTM) with a high effective medium ratio (EMR) and near-zero refractive index (NZI) is designed and investigated for multiband microwave applications. The metamaterial unit cell is a modification of the conventional square split-ring resonator in which the meander line concept is utilized. The meander line helps to increase the electrical length of the rings and provides strong multiple resonances within a small dimension. The unit cell of proposed MTM is initiated on a low-cost FR4 substrate of 1.5 mm thick and electrical dimension of 0.06λ × 0.06λ, where wavelength, λ is calculated at the lowest resonance frequency (2.48 GHz). The MTM provides four major resonances of transmission coefficient (S21) at 2.48, 4.28, 9.36, and 13.7 GHz covering S, C, X, and Ku bands. It shows negative permittivity, near-zero permeability, and near-zero refractive index in the vicinity of these resonances. The equivalent circuit is designed and modeled in Advanced Design System (ADS) software. The simulated S21 of the MTM unit cell is compared with the measured one and both show close similarity. The array performance of the MTM is also evaluated by using 2 × 2, 4 × 4, and 8 × 8 arrays that show close resemblance with the unit cell. The MTM offers a high effective medium ratio (EMR) of 15.1, indicating the design's compactness. The frequency hopping characteristics of the proposed MTM is investigated by open and short-circuited the three outer rings split gaps by using three switches. Eight different combinations of the switching states provide eight different sets of multiband resonances within 2–18 GHz; those give the flexibility of using the proposed MTM operating in various frequency bands. For its small dimension, NZI, high EMR, and frequency hopping characteristics through switching, this metamaterial can be utilized for multiband microwave applications, especially to enhance the gain of multiband antennas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An inductively tuned modified split-ring resonator-based metamaterial (MTM) is presented in this article that provides multiple resonances covering S, C, X, and Ku-bands. The MTM is designed on an FR-4 substrate with a thickness of 1.5 mm and an electrical dimension of 0.063λ × 0.063λ where wavelength, λ is calculated at 2.38 GHz. The resonator part is a combination of three squared copper rings and one circular ring in which all the square rings are modified shaped, and the inner two rings are interconnected. The resonance frequency is tuned by adding inductive metal strips in parallel two vertical splits of the outer ring that causes a significant shift of resonances towards the lower frequencies and a highly effective medium ratio (EMR) of 15.75. Numerical simulation software CST microwave studio is used for the simulation and performance analysis of the proposed unit cell. The MTM unit cell exhibits six resonances of transmission coefficient (S21) at 2.38, 4.24, 5.98, 9.55, 12.1, and 14.34 GHz covering S, C, X, and Ku-bands with epsilon negative (ENG), near-zero permeability, and near-zero refractive index (NZI). The simulated result is validated by experiment with good agreement between them. The performance of the array of the unit cells is also investigated in both simulation and measurement. The equivalent circuit modeling has been accomplished using Advanced Design Software (ADS) that shows a similar S21 response compared to CST simulation. Noteworthy to mention that with the copper backplane, the same unit cell provides multiband absorption properties with four major absorption peaks of 99.6%, 95.7%, 99.9%, 92.7% with quality factors(Q-factor) of 28.4, 34.4, 23, and 32 at 3.98, 5.5, 11.73 and 13.47 GHz, respectively which can be applied for sensing and detecting purposes. The application of an array of the unit cells is investigated using it as a superstrate of an antenna that provides a 73% (average) increase of antenna gain. Due to its simple design, compact dimension with high EMR, ENG property with near-zero permeability, this multiband NZI metamaterial can be used for microwave applications, especially for multiband antenna gain enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a monopole antenna with Ultra-wideband (UWB) characteristics is presented for applications in 5G and short-distance wireless communications. It consists of a rectangular shaped patch having truncated corners and central notch with an extended stub at top edge. Two layers of slots are engraved in the middle of the patch within which the outer layer contains four L shaped slots and the inner layer contains two face to face vertically placed U-shaped slots. A partial ground is structured with staircase slots to attain ultra-wideband response with sufficient gain and efficiency. The proposed antenna provides 124% of impedance bandwidth (2.8 GHz–12 GHz) implemented on a low-cost FR4 substrate having the electrical dimension of 0.3 × 0.19 at the low cutoff frequency. The effect of the inclusion of slots within the patch is clearly observable as it increases gain and efficiency. The proposed antenna exhibits better response with a maximum measured gain of 6.5 dBi and efficiency of 85% within the bandwidth. Near constant time delay around 1 nS and good fidelity factor of 0.8316 represents that this slotted antenna can be used for undistorted reliable signal transfer. This antenna also provides symmetrical radiation patterns with less cross-polarization effects. Therefore, this monopole antenna can be an appropriate candidate for short-range communication applications like 5G, wireless local area networks, transfer data from biomedical sensors and imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An epsilon negative metamaterial (MTM) is presented in this article that bears a symmetrical structure and shows a transmission coefficient (S 21) resonance at 2.78 GHz. The proposed MTM unit cell comprises an outer square ring with horizontally oriented splits, connected along the vertical axis to a circular inner ring featuring vertically oriented splits, forming an interconnected structure. The electrical dimension of the MTM cell is 0.08λ × 0.084λ, and here wavelength, λ is determined at 2.4 GHz. The MTM shows negative permittivity, near zero permeability as well as refractive index. The electric field, Magnetic field, and current distribution have been analyzed to realize resonance behavior. The compactness of the MTM is identified through an effective medium ratio (EMR) of 12.2. Moreover, an equivalent circuit is modeled and Advanced Design Systems (ADS) is utilized to confirm its performance. The prototype of the metamaterial is developed and a measured result is taken that exhibits a well-matching with the simulation result. Application of this metamaterial is checked through designing and developing an antenna and MTM is used as a superstrate over the antenna. Both the simulation and measured results reveal that as a superstrate, MTM helps to increase the antenna gain by more than 100% with less effect on the bandwidth. Thus, this new metamaterial can be a good candidate as an antenna element for increasing performance. Moreover, the proposed antenna-MTM system can be utilized for wireless power transmission as it provides an adequate gain in a compact 3D structure. • A new symmetrical epsilon negative metamaterial (MTM) with resonance at 2.78 GHz is demonstrated. • The MTM cell provides effective medium ratio (EMR) of 12.2 indicating its compactness. • The metamaterial's characteristics are investigated through analysis of electric field, magnetic field, and current distribution. • By integrating the MTM as a superstrate over an antenna, more than 100% increase in antenna gain is attained. • The proposed antenna-MTM system holds potential for wireless power transmission applications due to its compact 3D structure and substantial gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is the driving force of the economy of Bangladesh where two third of the arable land is inundated in monsoon due to low lying of geographical position and adverse effect of climate. A part of these monsoon wetlands are used for floating cultivation by the local farmers for their livelihood which is commonly known as "Vasoman Chash", a method of hydroponics. This century aged traditional agricultural method is being practiced in haor regions of Bangladesh. Matured water hyacinth is the most important component for making raft or bed for floating cultivation. Paddy straw, Son ghash (Imperata cylindrica), Noll ghash (Hamerthria protensa), Topapana (Pista stratiotes), ash twigs and desiccated coconut fibers are also used for making bed. The water hyacinth is collected from nearby wetlands and prepared bed and finally allowed 15 to 20 days for decomposition before cultivation. A ball /guti/tema is prepared by soft rotten Durali or Salvinia, where seeds are inserted for germination and finally covered with rotten water hyacinth and allowed for seedlings. After 5-6 days when seedlings attained 5-6 inches long, are transferred to the floating bed. Bamboos are usually used as anchorage to keep beds fixed in a place during the monsoon and then bed is ready for growing of various kinds of vegetables. This indigenous floating bed cultivation technology can mitigate food insecurity, poverty and adverse effects of global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new metamaterial absorber (MMA) is presented that exhibits resonances at 3.5 GHz and 13 GHz having peak absorption of 92.7% and 99.99% respectively. The MMA consists of an FR4 substrate with three interconnected circular rings and disk-shaped metallic layers at the top and full copper at the back. The overall dimension is 0.14λ0 × 0.14λ0, where λ0 is calculated at 3.5 GHz. The design is optimized through numerical simulation performed in CST microwave studio. The MMA shows polarization angle and incident angle insensitivity up to 60° for both transverse electric and transverse magnetic waves. The equivalent circuit is modeled and verified through simulation in Advanced Design Software (ADS). It exhibits an almost zero polarization conversion ratio with a maximum value of 0.002 at 13 GHz. The prototype of the MMA is developed and the measured result shows good similarity with the simulation. Due to polarization and incident angle intensity, and good absorption, this compact MMA can be applied in wireless communication systems including wave shielding from 5G signals, and microwave sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel N-doped green-emitting carbon dots with high QYs (17.36%–48.4%) were synthesized for multifaceted application. • N-GCDs exhibited strict solvent polarity-dependent switchability (solvatochromism). • Solvatochromism technique was utilized to detect moisture content in acetone and THF with LOD 0.37% and 0.38%, respectively. • N-GCDs were utilized to detect pH in the range of 3.8–6.2 with good linear relationship (R2 = 0.99). • Multicolor-emissive N-GCD/polymer films were prepared demonstrating the application of N-GCDs for solid-state lighting. Novel N-doped green-emitting carbon dots (N-GCDs) that were responsive to various external stimuli and had high quantum yields (QYs) for multifaceted applications were synthesized from β-resorcylic acid and ethylenediamine using a hydrothermal process followed by a reflux method. The QYs of the N-GCDs were in the range of 17.36%–48.4% and were associated with different photoluminescent color emission in different solvents. Interestingly, the as-synthesized N-GCDs exhibited strict solvent polarity-dependent switchability (solvatochromism) and multicolor excitation-wavelength-independent emission in different solvents. Sensing of an analyte based on the switching of the photoluminescence (PL) emission maxima (λ max) is always preferred over that based on fluorescence quenching to avoid complexity and confusion regarding the initial fluorescence intensity (I 0) and thus make the sensing process simple, rapid, ordered, and reliable. The N-GCDs exhibited blue emission in low-polarity organic solvents, but with the increase of the trace water content in the system, the PL emission peak gradually shifted to a higher wavelength (bathochromic shift) at a single-wavelength excitation. Thus, the N-GCDs are sensitive visual probes for the fluorescence detection of the trace water content in organic solvents without sophisticated processes. They also indicate the pH-response behavior. When the pH decreased from 7.6 to 2.4, the fluorescence emission intensity decreased, with a particularly good linear relationship (R2 = 0.990) in the range of 3.8–6.2. Moreover, the polarity-dependent-emission property was observed in the solid state polymer matrices. Multicolor-emissive N-GCD/polymer films were prepared by integrating N-GCDs with the polymer matrices of different polarity, demonstrating the application of carbon dots for solid-state lighting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Carbon dots (CDs) responsive to external stimuli that cause changes in their optical properties are in high demand. Herein, we present a microwave synthesis of highly fluorescent CDs derived for the first time from β-resorcylic acid (henceforth referred as R-CDs) in sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4) medium. Interestingly, the as-synthesized R-CDs showed tunable optical properties with three distinguishable colors (green/blue/blue-violet) depending on pH under UV irradiation. Spectral analyses and mechanistic studies revealed that the fluorescence switch is due to the deprotonation of the oxygenous surface functionalities in the R-CDs. The pH-dependent color switchability was tested in a number of cycles under UV light by adding 0.1 (M) HCl and NaOH. Although several mechanisms involving the complex photoluminescence of CDs have been reported, we propose here that the photoluminescence behavior of the CDs can be tuned by deprotonation of the oxygenous surface functionalities. Moreover, these R-CDs can be used as a potential visual indicator of three different pH ranges, and as highly selective and sensitive sensing medium for Fe3+ ions. The limit of detection was calculated to be 0.43 μM. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Carbon dots (R-CDs) were synthesized from β-resorcylic acid using microwave irradiation. • R-CDs showed pH dependent tunable optical properties under UV irradiation. • Two prototropic equilibria (Carboxylic acid ↔ carboxylate and phenol ↔ phenolate) controls photophysical properties. • R-CDs showed high selectivity and sensitivity towards Fe3+ metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A large number of kala-azar cases from a particular village in Debigonj upazila of Panchaghar, a remote district of Bangladesh, led us to carry out the study of the situation. Materials & methods: This cross-sectional study was done among clinically screened people at the health camp in two days in Dararhat in Debigonj upazila of Panchaghar. Results: Around 700 people were screened at the health camp and 51 (7.2%) were suspected to have either Kala-azar or related disorders where 42 (82%) were rk-39 test positive. The disease was more prevalent among adult (59.6%) and children (23.8%) under the age of 10 years. However, there was no clear linear relationship between the prevalence of the disease and age group. Kala-azar occurred in both male and female, and its prevalence did not correlate significantly with income. A history of fever (73.8%) and splenomegaly (45.2%) was noted in most of the kala-azar cases. A significant number of PKDL (26.2%) cases were also found in that area. Conclusions: Since there are a significant proportion of PKDL cases, eradication will be very tough unless the health authority take adequate measure to identify and treat them properly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer-to-peer energy trading allows smart grid-connected parties to trade renewable energy among each other. It is widely considered as a scheme to mitigate the supply–demand imbalances during peak-hour. However, the main challenge of such a scheme is the lack of secure, efficient, and transparent systems that foster economic incentives for users. This paper proposes a novel system that combines cooperative game theory and blockchain technology to stimulate users to maximize their profit and trade energy securely. In our model, users can store renewable energy credits as assets in the blockchain and trade them with others. We also develop a modified version of Proof of Energy Generation (PoEG) by including distribution line loss as a consensus mechanism among blockchain energy trading members. Then, we propose a coalition formation algorithm based on PoEG protocol and optimization technique to determine the winning coalition as block miners. The system is validated through comprehensive theoretical analysis and simulation experiments utilizing a standard IEEE 14-bus system and a real-life dataset (Ausgrid). Also, the developed model is implemented on the Avalanche blockchain platform. The test results show that the proposed scheme improves prosumers' financial benefits by 6.5% in terms of energy savings compared to the baseline model. The experiments demonstrate the effectiveness, capabilities, and robustness of the proposed system. • Proposing a blockchain and cooperative game theory-based P2P energy trading system. • Developing a coalition formation algorithm based on PoEG to determine block miners. • Validating the model using comprehensive theoretical analysis and experiments. • Utilizing a standard IEEE 14-bus system and the Ausgrid Dataset for the experiments. • Implementing the model using the Avalanche blockchain platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution is a worldwide concern that has growing severe in developed and developing nations. Increasing groundwater pollution threatening both the physical and environmental health of billions of people as well as economic progress. Consequently, hydrogeochemistry, water quality and potential health risk assessment is crucial for water resource management. The study area comprises Jamuna Floodplain (Holocene deposit) area in the west and the Madhupur tract (Pleistocene deposit) area in the eastern part. Total 39 groundwater samples were collected from the study area and were analyzed for physicochemical parameters, hydrogeochemical, trace metals, and isotopic composition. The water types are mainly Ca–HCO 3 - to Na–HCO 3 - types. The isotopic compositions (δ18O‰ and δ2H‰) analysis traces the recent recharge in Floodplain area from rainwater and no recent recharge in Madhupur tract. The concentration of NO 3 −, As, Cr, Ni, Pb, Fe, and Mn in shallow and intermediate aquifer at the Floodplain area exceed the WHO-2011 permissible limit and is lower at deep Holocene and Madhupur tract aquifer. The integrated weighted water quality index (IWQI) exposed groundwater from shallow and intermediate aquifer are unsuitable for drinking and deep Holocene aquifer and Madhupur tract are suitable for drinking purposes. PCA analysis confirmed that anthropogenic activity is dominant in shallow and intermediate aquifers. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk for adults and children is due to oral and dermal exposure. The non-carcinogenic risk evaluation revealed that the mean hazard index (HI) values range from 0.009742 to 16.37 for adults and 0.0124–20.83 for children, respectively, and most groundwater samples from shallow and intermediate aquifers exceed the permissible limit (HI>1). The carcinogenic risk ranges from 2.71 × 10−6-0.014 for adults and 3.44 × 10−6-0.017 for children via oral consumption and 7.09 × 10−11-1.18 × 10−6 for adults and 1.25 × 10−10-2.09 × 10−6 for children via dermal exposure. Spatial distribution shows the presence of trace metal and associated health risk is high in shallow and intermediate aquifer (Holocene) than in the deep (Holocene) Madhupur tract (Pleistocene). The study implies that effective water management will ensure safe drinking water for the future generation of people. [Display omitted] • Estimates the amount of anthropogenic contaminant and trace metals. • IWQI, HPI, HEI and C d determines the groundwater from shallow and intermediate aquifers is unsuitable for drinking. • Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks are higher in shallow and intermediate aquifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new metamaterial absorber (MMA) is presented that exhibits peak absorptions at 3.26 GHz, 11.6 GHz, and 17.13 GHz within S, X, and Ku bands. The unit cell of the proposed MMA is constructed on an FR4 substrate having an electrical dimension of 0.144λ × 0.144λ, where wavelength, λ is calculated at the lowest absorption frequency. The unique structural design of the unit cell consists of two concentric copper rings with which dumbbell-shaped structures are attached. The rotating symmetrical structural design of this MMA provides around 93.8%, 96.47%, and 99.95% peak absorptance in the mentioned frequencies, which is invariable with the change of incident angle as well as polarization angle. The metamaterial properties of the proposed absorber are studied along with the surface current analysis. The MMA shows single negative behaviour and it also exhibits high-quality factors (Q factor) of 21.73, 41.42, and 51.90 at maximum absorptance frequencies. The MMA is analysed by it's equivalent circuit to understand the resonance phenomenon, which is verified through simulation in Advanced Design Systems (ADS) software. The testing is done on the developed prototype of the proposed MMA. Measurement results are in close proximity to the simulation results. Due to its high Q factor, high EMR, and insensitivity to polarization and angle of incidence, it can be utilized as a part of miniaturized microwave device. In addition, the proposed MMA can exhibit high sensing performance and flexibility to differentiate different oils in S, X, and Ku bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examination of mode choice behavior is an important step in accurately predicting future travel demand. Despite having somewhat unique travel needs and challenges, there is a lack of knowledge in understanding the mode use behavior of university student population. The existing studies on university populations relied on a relatively smaller sample in investigating the behavior. Therefore, using world's largest university student's travel database, this study examines the factors affecting the mode choice behavior of a diverse university student population with student samples from four universities and their seven campuses located across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in Canada. Additionally, stratifying this diverse population using their attitudinal responses towards numerous travel modes, this study also estimates three additional mode choice models to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of how students in different markets, with different latent attitudes towards transportation, vary in terms of sustainable mode choice. A cluster analysis based on fourteen attitudinal responses, was conducted to stratify the sample whereas the popular multinomial logit approach was used to estimate the mode choice models. This study finds transit pass and bike ownership as important determinants that govern sustainable mode choice among the students in the region. The findings of this study could facilitate the sustainability offices at the four universities in making an informed policy decision in shifting the mode use behavior of students towards sustainable modes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Rural women in Bangladesh usually have lack of access, control and ownership over their land property because of existing patriarchal norms of the rural society. The prime objective of this study was to assess the impact of rural women's access to land on their income as well as household income. A multistage, geographically clustered, probability-based sampling approach was adopted for this study. Primary data were collected from the rural women living in two selected districts of Bangladesh. The Propensity Score Matching technique was used to assess the impact of land accessibility on household income and rural women's income. The Binary Logistic Regression technique was used to assess women's opinions. The study findings revealed that land had a positive impact on household income but rural women's income did not increase significantly despite having access to land. This study also showed that income, level of education, the existence of NGO operated programs in villages, and the number of visits to NGO offices by rural women were the key factors contributing to improving their overall well-being. Findings imply that the government should design an appropriate land ownership policy that guarantees titling as well as access for women to land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a unique metamaterial (MTM) structure is presented that exhibits four resonances of transmission coefficient (S21) that fall into S, X, and Ku bands. The MTM design is initiated on a Rogers (RT5880) substrate with an electrical dimension of 0.088 λ × 0.088 λ (λ is calculated at 3.424 GHz). The resonating patch contains four quartiles connected by a central metallic strip. The placement of each quartile is such that the whole resonator is mirror symmetric about the vertical axis. Two H-shaped modifiers connect two quartiles of each vertical half of the resonator. These H-shaped modifiers form the resonance cavity in its vicinity, and thus help significantly to orient the overall resonances of the proposed MTM at 3.424 GHz, 10 GHz, 14.816 GHz, and 16.848 GHz. The resonance phenomena are examined through equivalent circuit modeling and verified in Advanced Design Software (ADS). Metamaterial properties of the proposed MTM are extracted and it exhibits negative permittivity, permeability, and refractive index. The prototype of the MTM is fabricated and measurement is taken. The measured S21 shows a close similarity with the simulated result. Moreover, effective medium ratio (EMR) is calculated for the proposed MTM and a high EMR of 10.95 is obtained that expresses its compactness. This compact MTM with negative permittivity, permittivity, and refractive index can be important component for improving the performance of the miniaturized devices for multi-band wireless communication systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study intends to demonstrate the importance of library networking and resource sharing activities in Bangladesh. Particularly, it emphasizes the significance and value of UN library network that exists in Bangladesh. It concentrates on the background of UN library network, highlights resource sharing programmes, events, workshops, and trainings organized by the network. This paper is prepared through reviewing literature, using printed and online documents and research papers, visiting websites and interviewing focal points of member libraries. It states other resource sharing programmes which don't have any existence and which are currently working at this moment in Bangladesh. It shows the challenges of networking and resource sharing. It has been experienced that during the last two decades, a number of good initiatives were taken to establish an effective library and information network system for the purpose of resource sharing, but most of the networks could not sustain for many reasons with a few exceptions. Finally, some steps are recommended to formulate effective networking and resource sharing programme in Bangladesh by which valuable library services could be ensured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnapharmacological relevance Stephania japonica is a common plant, widely distributed in all over Bangladesh. Traditionally, this plant is considered as one of the important ingredients in treatment of a variety of ailments including inflammation, pain, rheumatism, cancer, bone fracture, fever etc. However, the scientific reports regarding the antinociceptive effect of this plant are very limited. This study evaluated the antinociceptive effect of methanolic extract of S. japonica (MESJ) leaves. Materials and methods The antinociceptive effect of MESJ was investigated using both heat- and chemical-induced nociceptive models such as hot plate, tail immersion, acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin and glutamate tests at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. Morphine (5 mg/kg) and diclofenac sodium (10 mg/kg) were used as reference drugs in thermal and chemical models, respectively. Moreover, naloxone (2 mg/kg) was used in the thermal models to justify the possible role of the opioid receptors. Results MESJ produced a significant and dose-dependent increase in the hot plate and tail immersion latencies which were reversed by the treatment with naloxone, suggests the possible involvement of opioid receptors in this activity. Moreover, MESJ inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin and glutamate-induced lickings in a dose-dependent manner. In parallel, the reference drugs also produced desired antinociceptive effects in this study. Conclusion These results strongly support the antinociceptive activity of the leaves of Stephania japonica and rationalize the traditional use of the leaves in treatment of different painful conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glinus oppositifolius is a small herb, widely used in the traditional medicine of Bangladesh in treatment of a variety of diseases and disorders such as insomnia, pain, inflammation, jaundice, and fever. The present study evaluated the sedative and anxiolytic potentials of the ethanol extract of leaves of G. oppositifolius (EEGO) in different behavioral models in mice. The sedative activity of EEGO was investigated using hole cross, open field, rotarod, and thiopental sodium- (TS-) induced sleeping time determination tests, where the elevated plus maze (EPM) and light-dark box (LDB) exploration tests were employed to justify the anxiolytic potentials in mice at the doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg. The results demonstrated that EEGO significantly inhibited the exploratory behavior of the animals both in hole cross and in open field tests in a dose-dependent manner. It also decreased motor coordination and modified TS-mediated hypnosis in mice. In addition, EEGO showed anxiolytic potential by increasing the number and time of entries in the open arm of EPM, which is further strengthened by increase in total time spent in the light part of LDB. Therefore, this study suggests the sedative and anxiolytic properties of the leaves of G. oppositifolius and supports the traditional use of this plant in treatment of different psychiatric disorders including insomnia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Physalis alkekengi is an edible herb whose fruit and calyx are traditionally used to treat a wide range of diseases including inflammation, toothache, and rheumatism. However, the effects of Physalis alkekengi fruit along with its calyx (PAF) on neuroinflammation and inflammatory pain behavior have not been reported yet. Aim of the study This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of PAF on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation and several in vivo model of inflammatory pain in mice. Materials and methods Here, first we studied the effects of PAF fractions on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in LPS-treated BV2 microglial cells using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and the involvements of Akt and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases in ethyl acetate fraction of PAF (PAF-EA)-mediated anti-inflammatory effect were measured using Western blotting. In in vivo experiments, the efficacy of PAF-EA was evaluated at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg using several chemical-induced models of inflammatory pain such as acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced paw licking and edema. Results We found that compared to other fractions, the PAF-EA more potently inhibited the LPS-induced generation of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and reactive oxygen species. It also inhibited LPS-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB. These actions of EA fraction were found to be associated with a disruption of Akt and MAP kinases signaling pathways. The EA fraction also significantly inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced licking time and edema in mice. Conclusions Our findings support the ethnopharmacological use of P. alkekengi fruit along with its calyx as an anti-inflammatory agent and suggest that the EA fraction of PAF may serve as a potential candidate to treat different neurological disorders and pain associated with inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short-term forecasting of traffic characteristics, such as traffic flow, speed, travel time, and queue length, has gained considerable attention from transportation researchers and practitioners over past three decades. While past studies primarily focused on traffic characteristics on freeways or urban arterials this study places particular emphasis on modeling the crossing time over one of the busiest US–Canada bridges, the Ambassador Bridge. Using a month-long volume data from Remote Traffic Microwave Sensors and a yearlong Global Positioning System data for crossing time two sets of ANN models are designed, trained, and validated to perform short-term predictions of (1) the volume of trucks crossing the Ambassador Bridge and (2) the time it takes for the trucks to cross the bridge from one side to the other. The prediction of crossing time is contingent on truck volume on the bridge and therefore separate ANN models were trained to predict the volume. A multilayer feedforward neural network with backpropagation approach was used to train the ANN models. Predicted crossing times from the ANNs have a high correlation with the observed values. Evaluation indicators further confirmed the high forecasting capability of the trained ANN models. The ANN models from this study could be used for short-term forecasting of crossing time that would support operations of ITS technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to investigate the attributes of walkable environments from the perspective of seniors in the Island of Montreal in Quebec, Canada. The research is based on a combination of statistical analysis of travel diary data and field work to conduct walkability audits. The approach follows a sequence of logical steps. The first step involves the estimation of a travel behavior model walking by seniors (people 65 years or older). The results of this model, in combination with cluster analysis, are used to identify sites where the model systematically under- or over-predicts walking. Subsequently, sites are targeted for walkability audits. It then becomes possible to assess the presence or absence of attributes of built environments where walking is more or less common than other factors would predict. A walkability audit of 403 street segments was used to proof the concept in this paper. The audited items were summarized in contingency tables and tested with the chi-squared test of independence to identify streetscape elements that correlate with walking for transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a unique metamaterial (MTM) structure is presented that exhibits four resonances of transmission coefficient (S21) that fall into S, X, and Ku bands. The MTM design is initiated on a Rogers (RT5880) substrate with an electrical dimension of 0.088 λ × 0.088 λ (λ is calculated at 3.424 GHz). The resonating patch contains four quartiles connected by a central metallic strip. The placement of each quartile is such that the whole resonator is mirror symmetric about the vertical axis. Two H-shaped modifiers connect two quartiles of each vertical half of the resonator. These H-shaped modifiers form the resonance cavity in its vicinity, and thus help significantly to orient the overall resonances of the proposed MTM at 3.424 GHz, 10 GHz, 14.816 GHz, and 16.848 GHz. The resonance phenomena are examined through equivalent circuit modeling and verified in Advanced Design Software (ADS). Metamaterial properties of the proposed MTM are extracted and it exhibits negative permittivity, permeability, and refractive index. The prototype of the MTM is fabricated and measurement is taken. The measured S21 shows a close similarity with the simulated result. Moreover, effective medium ratio (EMR) is calculated for the proposed MTM and a high EMR of 10.95 is obtained that expresses its compactness. This compact MTM with negative permittivity, permittivity, and refractive index can be important component for improving the performance of the miniaturized devices for multi-band wireless communication systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living organisms maintain a resting membrane potential, which plays an important role in various biophysical and biological processes. In the context of medical applications, irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a non-thermal and minimally invasive technique that utilizes precisely controlled electric field pulses of micro- to millisecond durations to effectively ablate cancer and tumor cells. Previous studies on IRE-induced rupture of cell-mimetic giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) have primarily been conducted in the absence of membrane potentials. In this study, we investigated the electroporation of GUVs, including parameters such as the rate constant of rupture and the probability of rupture, in the presence of various negative membrane potentials. The membranes of GUVs were prepared using lipids and channel forming proteins. As the membrane potential increased from 0 to −90 mV, the rate constant of rupture showed a significant increase from (7.5 ± 1.6)×10−3 to (35.6 ± 5.5)×10−3 s-1. The corresponding probability of rupture also exhibited a notable increase from 0.40 ± 0.05 to 0.68 ± 0.05. To estimate the pore edge tension, the electric tension-dependent logarithm of the rate constant was fitted with the Arrhenius equation for different membrane potentials. The presence of membrane potential did not lead to any significant changes in the pore edge tension. The increase in electroporation is reasonably explained by the decrease in the prepore free energy barrier. The choice of buffer used in GUVs can significantly influence the kinetics of electroporation. This study provides valuable insights that can contribute to the application of electroporation techniques in the biomedical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted by Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Floodplain Substation to investigate the reproductive biology of Ailia coila in the northern region of Bangladesh. A total number of 100 fish samples were collected on a monthly basis from the Atrai River and Jamuna River during the period from January 2022 to December 2022. The highest mean value of the gonado-somatic index (GSI) was recorded in July (8.78 ± 1.95%), whereas the lowest was found in December (0.15 ± 0.09%). The highest individual fecundity (2,450 ± 570) and ova diameter (0.38 ± 0.07 mm) was also observed in July. From the histological observation of the ovary, the highest percentages (75%) of mature oocytes were observed during the month of July. Based on the GSI, fecundity and gonadal histology, the breeding season of A. coila was observed from June to August with a remarkable peak in July. In the case of length weight relationship (LWR), the coefficient of determination value (r2) was found 0.96 and the slope was found b = 1.50 which indicated the pattern of negative allometric growth of this species as b < 3. In contrast, an increase was recorded in the fecundity associated with the rise of total length, body weight and gonad weight showed a significant linear relationship. This study would assist in the development of induced breeding techniques and provide valuable information for the sustainable management of this population in the inland open ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Polychromatic CQDs were prepared based on regulated acidic strength. • Facile wet chemistry based method produces tricolor polyaromatic-polyphenolic CQDs. • Multicolor photostable luminous CQDs promises intense full color cellular imaging. • CQDs had NIR-responsive high photothermal efficiency (32.65%) with good stability. • CQDs were utilized as favorable photothermal agent for efficient bactericidal activity. A strategy for the processing of photoluminescence emission tunable multicolor carbon quantum dots has been adopted based on the controllable acidic strength [different ratio mixtures of sulfuric and phosphoric acids (S:P)] using a single polyphenolic precursor. 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene, a three-fold symmetric (C 3h symmetry) triangulogen bearing –OH group at the meta position, was judiciously chosen to undergo dehydration facilitated condensation and carbonization suitably via a tri-molecular reaction route in a dehydrating acid medium. Polyaromatic-polyphenolic CQDs with multicolor emissions [blue (B-CQDs), green (G-CQDs), and yellow (Y-CQDs)] could be rapidly obtained through a facile wet chemistry-based thermal heating process. The mechanism of regulated bottom-up growth of CQD particles involved tri-molecular ring cyclization. These multicolor luminous CQD probes enabled intense multicolor cellular imaging throughout the entire visible range because of their good biocompatibility, photostability, and effective intracellular distribution. Moreover, Y-CQDs with larger polyaromatic sp2 domains and higher oxidized surfaces exhibited a high photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE ∼ 32.6 ± 1 %) and thus exhibited remarkable NIR-light responsive photothermal bactericidal activity. Our results demonstrate that hyperthermia-induced bactericidal activity is due to the elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) amplification and membrane damage of Bacillus subtilis. This study provides a potential alternative for the multicolor imaging guided CQDs-based phototheranostic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzymatic digestion of bovine lactoferrin generates lactoferricin B (Lfcin B), a 25-mer peptide with strong antimicrobial activity of unknown mechanism. To elucidate the mechanistic basis of Lfcin B bactericidal activity, we investigated the interaction of Lfcin B with Escherichia coli and liposomes of lipid membranes. Lfcin B induced the influx of a membrane-impermeant fluorescent probe, SYTOX green, from the outside of E. coli into its cytoplasm. Lfcin B induced gradual leakage of calcein from large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) of dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (DOPG)/dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) membranes. To clarify the cause of Lfcin B-induced leakage of calcein from the LUVs, we used the single giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) method to investigate the interaction of Lfcin B with calcein-containing DOPG/DOPC-GUVs. We observed that a rapid leakage of calcein from a GUV started stochastically; statistical analysis provided a rate constant for Lfcin B-induced pore formation, kp. On the other hand, phase-contrast microscopic images revealed that Lfcin B induced a rapid leakage of sucrose from the single GUVs with concomitant appearance of a spherical GUV of smaller diameter. Because of the very fast leakage, and at the present time resolution of the experiments (33 ms), we could not follow the evolution of pore nor the process of the structural changes of the GUV. Here we used the term “local rupture” to express the rapid leakage of sucrose and determined the rate constant of local rupture, kL. On the basis of the comparison between kp and kL, we concluded that the leakage of calcein from single GUVs occurred as a result of a local rupture in the GUVs and that smaller pores inducing leakage of calcein were not formed before the local rupture. The results of the effect of the surface charge density of lipid membranes and that of salt concentration in buffer on kp clearly show that kp increases with an increase in the extent of electrostatic interactions due to the surface charges. Analysis of Lfcin B-induced shape changes indicated that the binding of Lfcin B increased the area of the outer monolayer of GUVs. These results indicate that Lfcin B-induced damage of the plasma membrane of E. coli with its concomitant rapid leakage of internal contents is a key factor for the bactericidal activity of LfcinB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula is a very popular herb in Bangladesh due to its traditional uses in treatment of rheumatism, bone fracture and gastric ulcer. The present study was conducted to investigate the antinociceptive activity of ethanol extract of P. longifolia (EEPL) bark. Materials and methods Hot plate and tail immersion tests, acetic acid-induced writhing test, glutamate and formalin-induced paw licking tests in mice were employed in this study. In all the experiments EEPL was administered orally at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight. To investigate the possible participation of opioid system in EEPL-mediated effects, naloxone was used to antagonize the action. Results EEPL showed a significant antinociceptive activity against both heat and chemical-induced nociception. The effects were dose-dependent and significant at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg of EEPL. Besides, pretreatment with naloxone caused significant inhibition of the antinociceptive activity induced by EEPL, revealing the possible involvement of the opioid receptors. Conclusion These results indicate the antinociceptive activity of the bark of P. longifolia and support the ethnomedical use of this plant in treatment of different painful conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adenanthera pavonina is a deciduous tree commonly used in the traditional medicine to treat inflammation and rheumatism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of ethanol extract of leaves of A. pavonina (EEAP). EEAP was investigated using various nociceptive models induced thermally or chemically in mice including hot plate and tail immersion test, acetic acid-induced writhing, and glutamate- and formalin-induced licking tests at the doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight (p.o.). In addition, to assess the possible mechanisms, involvement of opioid system was verified using naloxone (2 mg/kg) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling pathway by methylene blue (MB; 20 mg/kg). The results have demonstrated that EEAP produced a significant and dose-dependent increment in the hot plate latency and tail withdrawal time. It also reduced the number of abdominal constrictions and paw lickings induced by acetic acid and glutamate respectively. EEAP inhibited the nociceptive responses in both phases of formalin test. Besides, the reversal effects of naloxone indicated the association of opioid receptors on the exertion of EEAP action centrally. Moreover, the enhancement of writhing inhibitory activity by MB suggests the possible involvement of cGMP pathway in EEAP-mediated antinociception. These results prove the antinociceptive activity of the leaves of A. pavonina and support the traditional use of this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]