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Despite Bangladesh's continued attempts, gender disparity in the workplace has long been a concern, and progress has been slow. Studies conducted earlier indicate that working women in Bangladesh experience an unwelcoming work environment, leading to unequal pay and limited opportunities for their career growth. Academic literature focuses little on the connection between gender and the physical work environment. This chapter focuses on the connection between the masculinist culture of organizations, how work is carried out, and workplaces are set up, illuminating the crucial role played by the built environment in maintaining gender equality. Infrastructure, spatial design, safety measures, amenities, and the biased culture often influence the obstacles to women's long-term success in the workplace. This chapter investigates and comprehends the constraints female employees encounter in Bangladesh during their work by scrutinizing the influence of the physical space and the biased socio-psychological environment. As women's long-term professional progress depends on how these elements are interrelated, improving the environment is the first step toward a fairer and more empowered work environment. A qualitative approach has been used in this study. Seventy-eight Bangladeshi graduate, working women have participated in this research. The results show that, regardless of efforts, the environment in Bangladeshi workplaces is inhos-pitable, directly affecting women's careers. Building a welcoming workspace accommodating all genders is crucial for creating gender parity and promot-ing long-term professional growth. Therefore, this research suggests that the government should capitalize on successful efforts and investigate alternative techniques to improve this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bay of Bengal (BoB) is home to a range of commercially important species with different food habits and feeding features. Microplastic (MP) contamination in the fish of BoB, like in many other marine environments, is a significant environmental concern. The study aimed to investigate the presence of microplastics (MPs) in the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of selected commercial marine fishes from the Bangladesh coast of the BoB. Six fish species (Escualosa thoracata, Tenualosa ilisha, Johnius belangerii, Trichiurus lepturus, Planiliza parsia, and Mystus gulio) were investigated (n = 120) following hydrogen peroxide digestion, and floatation (saline solution) protocols. After analyses, a total number of 696 MPs (dimension 0.3 to 5 mm) were identified. Moreover, the highest occurrence of MPs in fish GITs was found in planktivorous fish (average of 7.7 items/individual), followed by omnivorous (average of 5.2 items/individual), and carnivorous fish (average of 4.6 items/individual) (p < 0.001). However, planktivorous E. thoracata showed the highest number of MPs per g of GIT (average of 30.99 items/g GIT), whereas T. ilisha showed the lowest count (average of 0.77 items/g GIT). Different types of MPs (fibers (19 to 76%), fragments (6 to 61%), films (8 to 35%), microbeads (0 to 5%), and foams (0 to 2%)) were also observed. In terms of the color of MPs, the transparent, black, green, and blue types were the most common. Polymers were found as polyethylene (35 to 43%), polyethylene terephthalate (28 to 35%), polyamide (20 to 31%), and polystyrene (0 to 7%). The study provides a significant incidence of MPs in fish from the Bangladesh part of the BoB, which is very concerning. Therefore, long-term research is indispensable to ascertain the variables affecting the presence of MPs in fish, their origins, and their potential effects on the BoB fisheries. Stringent policies on plastic use and disposal should be strongly urged in this coastal region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Typhoid and paratyphoid remain common bloodstream infections in areas with suboptimal water and sanitation infrastructure. Paratyphoid, caused by Salmonella Paratyphi A, is less prevalent than typhoid and its antimicrobial resistance (AMR) trends are less documented. Empirical treatment for paratyphoid is commonly based on the knowledge of susceptibility of Salmonella Typhi, which causes typhoid. Hence, with rising drug resistance in Salmonella Typhi, last-line antibiotics like ceftriaxone and azithromycin are prescribed for both typhoid and paratyphoid. However, unlike for typhoid, there is no vaccine to prevent paratyphoid. Here, we report 23-year AMR trends of Salmonella Paratyphi A in Bangladesh. Methods: From 1999 to 2021, we conducted enteric fever surveillance in two major pediatric hospitals and three clinics in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Blood cultures were performed at the discretion of the treating physicians; cases were confirmed by culture, serological and biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined following CLSI guidelines. Results: Over 23 years, we identified 2,725 blood culture-confirmed paratyphoid cases. Over 97% of the isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and cotrimoxazole, and no isolate was resistant to all three. No resistance to ceftriaxone was recorded, and >99% of the isolates were sensitive to azithromycin. A slight increase in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is noticed for ceftriaxone but the current average MIC is 32-fold lower than the resistance cut-off. Over 99% of the isolates exhibited decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. Conclusions: Salmonella Paratyphi A has remained susceptible to most antibiotics, unlike Salmonella Typhi, despite widespread usage of many antibiotics in Bangladesh. The data can guide evidence-based policy decisions for empirical treatment of paratyphoid fever, especially in the post typhoid vaccine era, and with the availability of new paratyphoid diagnostics. Author summary: Typhoid and paratyphoid fever, caused by Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi A respectively, are common in areas lacking safe water and optimum infrastructure. With increasing multidrug resistance in Salmonella Typhi, newer antimicrobials like ceftriaxone and azithromycin are frequently prescribed for the empirical treatment of both typhoid and paratyphoid fever. This is because Salmonella Paratyphi A is less prevalent in most endemic countries, and typhoid and paratyphoid fever are often symptomatically indistinguishable. In this study, we conducted comprehensive surveillance of Salmonella Paratyphi A in Bangladesh over a period of 23 years and identified 2,725 blood culture-confirmed paratyphoid cases. Our findings indicate that Salmonella Paratyphi A remained susceptible to most of the older generation of antibiotics as over 97% of the isolates continue to be susceptible to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and cotrimoxazole, and no isolate detected was resistant to all three drugs. Although 99% of the isolates exhibited reduced fluoroquinolone susceptibility, 99% and 100% were sensitive to azithromycin and ceftriaxone. These findings are important and can guide evidence-based policy decisions for the empirical treatment of paratyphoid fever. While newer antimicrobials such as azithromycin and ceftriaxone remain effective, successful implementation of typhoid conjugate vaccines and rapid diagnostics may re-enable the use of older generation antibiotics for empirical treatment of enteric fever without compromising the treatment efficacy. This approach can contribute to the antimicrobial stewardship efforts by preserving critically important antimicrobials such as ceftriaxone and azithromycin for the treatment of numerous other multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children from three years to the age of five are considered pre-primary students when their emotional, social, cognitive, linguistic, and other skills are built and developed, which helped determine the future behaviors of a child. Children are heavily impacted by their surroundings and the people around them throughout this critical stage. In the 21st century, Bangladesh's pre-primary education system has been heavily shaped and developed, following Western pedagogy. Parental aspiration remains a crucial path in developing the ECE curriculum in Bangladesh. The ECE curriculum is being remodeled under the influence of the national culture, considering the parental aspiration for the betterment of their children. Cultural components, such as customs, beliefs, social norms, regulations, and religions, have signifi-cantly influenced education. This study aims to investigate the pre-primary education system and identify the changing patterns influenced by culture globally and nationally. In this study, a mixed-methods approach has been employed for the data collected. This exploratory study used inductive reasoning to weave latest information into innovative ideas. Since the parental perspective varies in division wise needs and progress enhancement aspirations, the participants were selected from four divisional headquarters of Bangladesh: Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, and Rangpur. For the comprehensive development of cognitive and behavioral patterns, children must be exposed to the history and culture of the community by making the curriculum more engaging. Thus, a refined early learning through ECE has been vital to building a dynamic, economic, and strong nation for the future of Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipoid proteinosis is a rare multisystem genodermatosis inherited as autosomal recessive trait. We report a case of lipoid proteinosis in a 10-year-old boy born to first-degree consanguineous parents presented with marked hoarseness of voice, accelerated photoaging appearance, enlarged and erythematous tongue with restricted movement and widespread dermatoses. Biopsy of oral mucosa revealed Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive amorphous eosinophilic hyaline deposits. Mutational analysis revealed a homozygous nonsense mutation with C to T substitution at nucleotide position 1246(c.1246C>T) in exon-8 of the extracellular matrix protein 1 gene leading to a stop codon. Both the parents were unaffected heterozygous carriers. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of lipoid proteinosis with evidence of a novel nonsense genetic mutation from Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early childhood education (ECE) contributes to all young children's cognitive and non-cognitive development. Most developed countries invest in early childhood education to boost human capital development. In countries such as Bangladesh which are impoverished and underdeveloped, the government has not provided enough access, enrollment, and quality early childhood education. Consequently, parents motivate early childhood education, whose financial circumstances alter to enroll children in school. This study examines the parental aspiration that encourages and motivates them to enroll their children in ECE schools. FGDs and KIIs were conducted with the individual respondents using a qualitative case study method. The findings indicate that parental aspirations, anxieties, and socio-economic conditions significantly affect children's enrollment in ECE schools. The probability that a child will be enrolled in an ECE school is heavily influenced by the socio-economic position of parents, social recognition, quality of service, and the school's reputation. This study argued that parental aspiration for children's enrollment and non-enrollment in ECE impede social justice in education for all children. Finally, all the stakeholders should take innovative policy initiatives to ensure institutional justice and equal enrollment opportunities for children aged 3-5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea is one of the most popular and oldest beverages available in many varieties and the use of different flavoring ingredients is becoming more common. The present study aimed to examine tea consumption behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic and analyzed the bioactive compounds of tea flavoring ingredients. At first, a cross-sectional study was carried out with 140 randomly selected participants to determine tea consumption patterns and data was collected through face-to-face interviews. Then 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test, the Folin-Ciocalteu technique, and the quercetin method were used to assess antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) of tea flavoring ingredients. The study found that 57.86% of the participants increased their tea consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas 22.80% increased their tea consumption by at least one more cup per day. It was also found that ginger was the most popular (29.5%) among fifteen tea flavoring agents. By analyzing tea flavoring ingredients, the maximum antioxidant activity found in cinnamon was 87%, and lemon leaves had the lowest, which was 60%. On a dry weight basis, the TPC of the tea flavoring components ranged from 36.52 mg GAE/g for cloves to 9.62 mg GAE/g for ginger. The maximum TFC was also found in clove with 13.68 mg QE/g, and moringa was the second highest with 12.26 mg GAE/g. The antioxidant activity of flavoring compounds has a significant correlation (p<0.05) with TPC and TFC. Overall, tea consumption behavior with tea flavoring ingredients increased during the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Tea with flavoring ingredients may be one of the best dietary sources of antioxidants, TPC, and TFC which are important for strengthening the immune system and controlling different physiological and metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring food security for the rapidly increasing population and changing climatic scenarios are requisites for exploiting the genetic divergence of food crops. A study was undertaken to sort out an early maturing chickpea variety for fitting easily between rice-rice cropping systems in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain of Bangladesh. The trial was comprised of eight elite lines of chickpea and executed at various localities in Bangladesh from 2014-15 to 2017-18. The result explored the chickpea genotype, BARI Chola-11 remained superior to the rest of the elite genotypes for having a short maturity period (100-106 days), and lesser days to 50% flowering (47-55 days). The same genotype was recorded to have robust vegetative and reproductive yield attributes including plant height (49-57 cm), podsplant-1 (37-50), and optimum 100 seed weight (19.5-20.6 g). Owing to better yield attributes, BARI Chola-11 resulted in the maximum seed yield (1200-1500 kg ha-1) of chickpea and might be recommended for general adoption in the region for boosting nutritional security status through improved productivity under changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aims to appraise the impact of service quality dimensions on user satisfaction in Bangladeshi public university libraries using structural equation modeling (SEM). Design/methodology/approach: This study developed an SEM method based on SERVQUAL, LibQUAL+ and SERVPERF instruments, including 30 items under five service quality dimensions and eight satisfaction items with the 7-point Likert scale to appraise the impact of library service quality dimensions on user satisfaction. For this purpose, a survey was carried out among 437 students, 52 MPhil/PhD researchers and 32 teachers of the nine selected public university libraries of Bangladesh through a structured questionnaire. The SEM approach included path analysis, confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis, as well as construct reliability and validity where user satisfaction was used as the dependent variable, and five service quality dimensions were applied as independent variables. Findings: This model was identified as significant and clarified 58% of the total variation in user satisfaction. The study findings indicated that resources of the libraries, staff competence, demeanor approach and tangible facilities of the public university libraries have a significant impact on user satisfaction. Originality/value: An initiative has been taken for the first time to ascertain the impact of library service quality on user satisfaction applying the SEM approach in Bangladesh. Moreover, it creates an avenue to prompt future studies on the structural relationship between user satisfaction and service quality dimensions in academic libraries globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to estimate arsenic (As) and iron (Fe) content in tubewell water (n = 58) in primary educational institutions and subsequently assess the health risks to school-going children. Results described that the As concentration ranged between 0.002 and 0.994 mg L−1 with an average value of 0.044 mg L−1; which exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) provisional guideline value of 0.01 mg L−1. Similarly, the Fe content varied from 0.05 to 10 mg L−1 averaging to 2.84 mg L−1. Samples of 55.17% contained a greater As concentration than 0.01 mg L−1 and 18.97% greater than Bangladesh drinking water quality (BDWQ) standard of 0.05 mg L−1, respectively. Meanwhile, 75.86% of samples contained a higher Fe concentration than the maximum Bangladesh permissible limit of 1 mg L−1. Health risk assessment indicated that girls are more vulnerable than boys are. The average hazard quotients (HQs) for As intake through drinking water were 6.01 ± 17.85 and 7.41 ± 22.03 for boys and girls, respectively, implying non-carcinogenic health risks to both genders. The HQs for Fe intake were less than threshold value of 1 indicating no health issues may arise from Fe intake alone. However, consumption of As and Fe may trigger health risks to students as indicated by the hazard index (HI), which was higher than 1. The average cancer risk (CR) values for both boys (0.0027 ± 0.008) and girls (0.0033 ± 0.0099) exceeded the threshold limit of 10–6–10–4, suggesting a possibility of lifetime cancer risks to the school-going children. Consequently, school authorities should find alternative ways to ensure safe drinking water for school-going children to avoid possible cancer and non-cancer health risks through consumption of As-poisoning water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Low birth weight (LBW) is a major risk factor of child mortality and morbidity during infancy (0–3 years) and early childhood (3–8 years) in low and lower-middle-income countries, including Bangladesh. LBW is a vital public health concern in Bangladesh. The objective of the research was to investigate the socioeconomic inequality in the prevalence of LBW among singleton births and identify the significantly associated determinants of singleton LBW in Bangladesh. Materials and methods: The data utilized in this research was derived from the latest nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2017–18, and included a total of 2327 respondents. The concentration index (C-index) and concentration curve were used to investigate the socioeconomic inequality in LBW among the singleton newborn babies. Additionally, an adjusted binary logistic regression model was utilized for calculating adjusted odds ratio and p-value (<0.05) to identify the significant determinants of LBW. Results: The overall prevalence of LBW among singleton births in Bangladesh was 14.27%. We observed that LBW rates were inequitably distributed across the socioeconomic groups (C-index: -0.096, 95% confidence interval: [-0.175, -0.016], P = 0.029), with a higher concentration of LBW infants among mothers living in the lowest wealth quintile (poorest). Regression analysis revealed that maternal age, region, maternal education level, wealth index, height, age at 1st birth, and the child's aliveness (alive or died) at the time of the survey were significantly associated determinants of LBW in Bangladesh. Conclusion: In this study, socioeconomic disparity in the prevalence of singleton LBW was evident in Bangladesh. Incidence of LBW might be reduced by improving the socioeconomic status of poor families, paying special attention to mothers who have no education and live in low-income households in the eastern divisions (e.g., Sylhet, Chittagong). Governments, agencies, and non-governmental organizations should address the multifaceted issues and implement preventive programs and policies in Bangladesh to reduce LBW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity in the hill tract districts of Bangladesh becomes acute in the dry season as most of the streams, the primary source of water, dry up. However, groundwater, where available, can supply water throughout the year. In this study, a total of 37 water samples were collected and analyzed from shallow (34) and deep (3) wells in Khagrachhari Sadar to assess their geochemical type and suitability for drinking using a multiparameter groundwater quality index (GWQI), as well as their suitability for irrigation uses using the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), sodium percentage (SP), and the Riverside and Wilcox classifications. The physicochemical parameters of the groundwater were characterized by relatively low EC, low pH, positive redox potentials (Eh) in millivolts, and mostly soft water. Shallow wells were dominated by Ca–HCO3- and Ca–Na–HCO3-type water, and deep wells by Na–HCO3-type water. Among major and trace ions, there were higher concentrations, exceeding safe water standards, of HCO3− in deep wells and NO3−, Fe2+, and Mn2+ in shallow wells. Irrigation water quality assessments and GWQI results reveal that most shallow wells can be considered good and safe options for both drinking and irrigation, while groundwater from deep wells requires additional caution prior to use for agricultural purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) is the third‐most important grain legume in the world. In Bangladesh, it is important for human food and nutrition, animal feed, and sustainable rice‐based cropping systems. However, lentil area is declining due to competition with other winter and spring crops, particularly irrigated spring rice (boro rice; Oryza sativa L.). To increase lentil production, the extra‐early (<95 d) lentil line LRIL‐22‐70 was selected to grow in the short fallow period between monsoon and spring rice under a proposed new cropping pattern. LRIL‐22‐70 was identified from a recombinant inbred line population through rigorously evaluated in diverse agro‐ecological conditions of Bangladesh and released for commercial cultivation by Pulses Research Centre, BARI, as 'BARI Masur‐9' (Reg. no. CV‐36, PI 700307) in 2018. BARI Masur‐9 is a transgressive segregant for earliness (matures in <93 d) and fits well in the new monsoon rice–lentil–spring rice cropping pattern. It is a medium‐seeded (2.38 g 100–1 seed) cultivar with high tolerance to Stemphylium blight. The average seed yield of BARI Masur‐9 was 1,201 kg ha–1, with higher concentrations of Fe (73 mg kg−1) and Zn (61 mg kg−1) compared with other genotypes; thus, BARI Masur‐9 contributes to combatting micronutrient malnutrition in Bangladesh. BARI Masur‐9, the first extra‐early lentil cultivar, can successfully be grown to replace fallow between rice as a new cropping pattern monsoon rice–lentil (BARI Masur‐9)–spring rice in about 8 million ha in Bangladesh, eastern Indian states, and eastern Nepal. Core Ideas: BARI Masur‐9 is an extra‐early (85–90 d) lentil cultivar that fits in the monsoon rice–lentil–spring rice cropping pattern.BARI Masur‐9 seed is enriched with Fe (73 mg kg−1) and Zn (61 mg kg−1).BARI Masur‐9 is tolerant to Stemphylium blight and root rot diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is a nutritious food for millions of people globally. It plays an important role in Bangladesh as a good source of protein and micronutrients for low‐income populations with less access to animal protein. To enhance nutritional security, a nutrient‐dense lentil line, LR‐9‐25, was identified from a Stemphylium blight (SB) screening population developed at The International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas through a cross between ILLX955‐135 and FLIP92‐52L. The line LR‐9‐25 was rigorously evaluated in diverse agro‐ecological conditions of Bangladesh and released for commercial cultivation by the Pulses Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute as 'BARI Masur‐8' (Reg. no. CV‐35, PI 700306) in 2015. BARI Masur‐8 matures in 115–120 d and fits well into existing rice‐based cropping patterns. It is a medium‐height (35 cm) and medium‐seeded (1.94 g 100−1 seed) cultivar having a high level of tolerance to SB and root rot diseases. BARI Masur‐8 showed high yield potential (1,973 kg ha−1) and high concentrations of Fe (74 mg kg−1), Zn (61 mg kg−1), and Se (325 μg kg−1) in seed. Another desirable trait is the late planting potential, with sowing up to the first week of December after the harvest of long‐duration rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars, which is a major area for lentil production in Bangladesh. The cultivation of this improved cultivar will play an important role for enhancing nutritional security by increasing lentil production in Bangladesh, Nepal, and eastern Indian states in South Asia. Core Ideas: High‐yielding (1,973–2,500 kg ha−1) lentil cultivar BARI Masur‐8 outyielded BARI Masur‐7 by 20–25%.BARI Masur‐8 seed is enriched with Fe (74 mg kg−1), Zn (61 mg kg−1), and Se (325 μg kg−1).BARI Masur‐8 is tolerant to stemphylium blight and root rot diseases.BARI Masur‐8 has late planting potential after the harvest of long‐duration rice cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graduate employability is a multifaceted concept considering the Sustainable Development Goals. Graduate employability and skills development are also significant determinants for future career success. Graduate employability has seen more sweeping emphasis and concerns in national and global job markets, due to the ever-rising number of unemployed people, which has increased even more due to COVID-19. Due to its importance, this study investigates the current state of skill development initiatives in Bangladesh and the perceptions of university graduates regarding skill development for their future employability. This study uses mixed-method research. Data was collected through surveys and in-depth interviews; various probabilistic and non-probabilistic sample selection methods were used. A total of 437 participants responded to this study. After analysis, the data was shown descriptively. The empirical findings of this study demonstrated that university graduates are well-aware of the skill development requirements for their future employability. However, university graduates face many obstacles in acquiring these necessary skill development opportunities. Therefore, the government and relevant stakeholders must work together to alleviate the obstacles. Furthermore, this study includes recommendations that can assist in developing a model for skill development programs and initiatives in the country for university graduates to ensure their future employability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Savar Upazila in the Dhaka District is a rapidly expanding city with a diverse range of industries and agricultural activities. This expansion poses environmental challenges including the threat to groundwater contamination. Based on these considerations, the objective of this research is to carry out a shallow groundwater hydrogeochemical characterization and an assessment of the suitablity of the groundwater for drinking and irrigational purposes using a geochemical approach, multivariate statistical techniques, and some indices of groundwater quality. The hydrogeochemical analyses of 42 groundwater samples from shallow depths (18 − 76 m) showed that the order of concentrations of cations, anions, and metals was Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+, HCO3− > Cl− > SO42− > NO3−, and Cr > As > Pb > Mn > Fe, respectively. Weathering of silicates was found to be the most significant hydrogeochemical process governing the chemistry of groundwater. Cation exchange also plays a significant role in the evolution of the groundwater chemistry. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis suggested that anthropogenic activities are influencing groundwater quality. A drinking water quality index map showed that about 91% of the groundwater samples were in the excellent category and suitable for human consumption, with only a few samples exceeding the standards of the WHO and Bangladesh for concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3−, Fe, Mn, and As. An analysis of irrigation quality parameters found that most of the groundwater samples were either excellent or good for agricultural uses, except for one sample in the Tetuljhora Union that was unsuitable based on residual sodium carbonate. This finding may be useful to local governments in understanding the current status of groundwater quality, tracking potential threats of contamination, and initiating appropriate measures for long-term groundwater resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In intensive crop production systems, sustainable agricultural development strives to find the balance between productivity and environmental impact. To reduce the N fertilizer-associated environmental risks of intensive cropping, sound agronomic and environmentally acceptable management practices are urgently needed. To attain high yields, improve soil health, and ensure economic return and N usage efficiency in conservation-based intensive agriculture, N management must be optimized, which has not yet been studied systematically in the mustard-boro rice-aman rice cropping pattern. During 2016/17, 2017/18, and 2018/19 cropping seasons in Bangladesh, cropping system experiments were conducted to investigate the interactive effects of tillage practices and nitrogen fertilizer rates on soil characteristics, crop productivity, and profitability under conservation agriculture (CA) systems. The trial featured two tillage systems: (i) conventional tillage (CT) and (ii) strip-tillage (ST). It also used three doses of N fertilizer: N1: 75% of the recommended N fertilizer dose (RND); N2: 100% of the RND; and N3: 125% of the RND. Each crop's experiment was set up in a split-plot design with three replications, with the main plot assigned tillage practices and the sub-plot assigned nitrogen fertilizer rates. For rice, neither the tillage systems nor the interactions between the tillage systems and N levels affected any of the growth parameters, yield, and yield components, but the N levels did. Across the tillage systems, the rice grain and straw yield were similar for the N levels of 100% RND and 125% RND, which were significantly higher than the N level of 75% RND. In mustard, the highest seed yield was recorded from the tillage system ST, with an N level of 125% RND, which was at par with the tillage system ST with 100% RND and CT with 125% RND. The highest system rice equivalent yield (SREY, 14.9 to 15.8 t ha−1) was recorded from the tillage system ST, with an N level of 125% RND, which was at par with the same tillage system with an N level of 100% RND. The soil penetration and bulk density (BD) were higher for the CT than the ST, but soil organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and boron (B) content were higher for the tillage system ST than the CT. Across N levels, the tillage system CT had a 2–4% higher production cost than the ST. Total production cost increased as N levels increased across all tillage systems. The tillage system ST with an N level of 125% RND had the highest system gross return and net profit, which was at par with the same tillage system with 100% RND. This study suggested that farmers should apply slightly higher N for the mustard-boro-aman rice systems for the first couple of years when commencing CA; however, after a few years of consistent CA practice, the N rate may be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify blood biomarkers for rapidly predicting progression and severity assessment of COVID-19 in type 2 diabetic (DM) and non-DM (NDM) patients. Among 211 hospitalized patients suspected of COVID-19, 98 were confirmed COVID-19 by rRT-PCR. The COVID-19 positive group contained 58 DM and 40 NDM patients with total death 9 of which 7 were males and 6 were DM, indicating males and DM individuals as more susceptible to COVID-19. Blood biomarkers notably serum ferritin, CRP, D-dimer, ALT, troponin I, and Hb1Ac were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in COVID-19 patients. Ferritin and HbA1c levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in DM than NDM COVID-19 patients. The present study suggests that ferritin and HbA1c levels for DM patients, and ferritin, D-dimer, ALT for NDM patients could be routinely used as biomarkers for progression and severity assessment of COVID-19. CRP and Troponin-I could be the predictor only for poor prognosis of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological studies have indicated that anti-Ascaris IgE enhances asthma and allergies under specific conditions although the association between them is still controversial. The association of anti-Ascaris IgE with increased asthma symptoms among children from a general population with a mild to moderate Ascaris infection prevalence was investigated. Methods: A total of 126 children aged 5 years with wheezing during the previous year and 110 children who did not have wheezing were selected randomly from the rural service area of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. Serum levels of total, anti-Ascaris, anti-Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and anti-cockroach IgEs were tested, and their risks for wheezing were analyzed. The wheezing children were then classified by hierarchical cluster analysis to investigate the contribution of anti-Ascaris IgE to wheezing. Results: The anti-Ascaris IgE levels in wheezing and never-wheezing children were 1.07 and 0.65 UA/mL, and it contributed to 11% of wheezing in children. Anti-Ascaris IgE was significantly associated with wheezing (odds ratio [OR] per loge increment: 1.37 [95% CI: 1.01–1.87], p = 0.046). The ORs, which were adjusted for sex, parental asthma, pneumonia history, helminth infections, Haemophilus influenzae type B combination vaccination, antibiotic use during infancy, and total and specific IgE levels, increased even when only children with more specific symptoms of asthma were included in the analysis. Namely, the ORs for wheezing with sleep disturbance, four or more attacks, and wheezing with speech difficulties during the previous 1 year were OR = 1.44/loge increment [95% CI: 1.01–2.07], OR = 1.90/loge increment [95% CI: 1.11–3.25], and OR = 1.78/loge increment [95% CI: 1.01–3.14], respectively. Conclusions: The anti-Ascaris IgE levels in wheezing and never-wheezing children in the current study significantly decreased concurrently with Ascaris infection prevalence compared with their corresponding values in 2001. The contribution of anti-Ascaris IgE to wheezing also dropped from 26% in 2001 to 11% in the current study. Despite significant decreases in the levels and the seroprevalence and its contribution to wheezing, anti-Ascaris IgE remained significantly associated with increased risk of wheezing. Anti-Ascaris IgE significantly increased the risk of wheezing in a general population with a mild to moderate Ascaris infection prevalence, suggesting robustness as a risk factor and a possible dose-response relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universally, Early Childhood Education (ECE) received considerable attention among the stakeholders, and multiple international studies have emphasized the critical nature of the high-quality ECE facilities that integrate learning and play. Several studies have demonstrated the positive influence of decent learning environments on prospects and the comprehensive development of children. This research focuses on play-based learning through gamification to characterize the excellent ECE environments and provide the importance of play-based learning in Bangladesh. This case study research focuses on the necessities of play-based learning in Bangladesh for ECE development, considering the Japanese experience. This study shows that the absence of children's play and play-based learning in Bangladesh is due to a lack of government policy initiatives and parental socioeconomic situations. A theoretical analysis has been included through Vygotsky's sociocultural approach to understanding the necessities of play-based learning for the welfare of children in Bangladesh. The findings show that the government policy formulation and stakeholders' engagement might create the opportunity for establishing playbased learning in ECE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bangladesh is in a subtropical monsoon region and extends from 20°34'N to 26°38'N latitude, its agriculture is comprised of several diversified rice-based cropping systems. Potato is an important winter crop across the country. To help increase the sustainability of potato production in Bangladesh, a set of medium-term late blight-resistant potato clones bred in CIP were evaluated for diversification potential at six locations from 2008 to 2013. After seven years of field trials, TCRC, BARI identified two clones, namely CIP 393371.58 (coded LB-6) and CIP 393280.64 (LB-7) which are consistently resistant to Late Blight under field conditions without fungicide and yield as well or better than the predominant commercial varieties (Diamant) in a 90-day cropping window. According to the AUDPC, LB-4, LB-5, LB-6 and LB-7 were moderate to highly resistant to Late Blight. The latter two produced over 30 tons of tubers per hectare. Similar yields were recorded in on-farm trials during 2011-12. These two clones were entered into regional yield trials as a requirement for variety release by the NSB. Based on field performance at on-station and farmers' fields, NSB released BARI Alu-46 (LB-7) in 2013 and BARI Alu-53 (LB-6) in 2014 as the country's two late blight-resistant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to identify the big data adoption in information institutions as well as to justify the understanding and expertise level of information professionals. The study tried to identify the adoption of big data in the information institutions of Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: A structured questionnaire was adapted cautiously for conducting the study. The Questionnaire was sent to more than 50 professionals of information institutions via email and FB messenger. The respondents are the professionals and faculty members who had the minimum qualification of bachelor/master/postgraduate degree in information science and library management. Among them, 25 respondents from 20 information institutions replied. Result: The study found that most of the information institutions yet to adopt big data properly in Bangladesh. Twenty percent of institutions adopted big data whereas eighty percent did not adopt it even some of the institutions are not aware of big data. The study found that sixty percent of professionals are not aware of the monthly amount of data used in their institutions. The results found that information professionals are, in general, positive in big data adoption. The study also assessed the understanding level of them. Conclusion: The effort has been made to explore the current awareness activities of big data and its adoption in the information institutions of Bangladesh for the first time that will trigger further study on big data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caffeine is one of the commonly used food additives, which has unique flavor characteristics and bitter taste and used in soft drinks as flavor enhancer. An experimental study was designed to determine the concentration of caffeine in different brands of soft drinks and energy drinks available in Bangladesh by using HPLC. For chromatographic analysis, A Luna 5µ C18 (2) 100A column (250×4.6 mm) was used at 37°C temperature at the wavelength of 272nm. Chromatographic separation was determined using buffer of sodium acetate and acetic acid with acetonitrile at a ratio of 80:20 (pH=4.0; flow rate of 1.0 ml/min). The results of this study showed that caffeine content in soft drinks ranged from 19.63 to 101.73 mg/100ml and highest concentration of caffeine found in brand 3 samples while lowest concentration found in brand 2 samples. Significantly higher concentration of caffeine (p<0.05) found in six soft drinks sample when compared to BSTI and FDA reference value except brand 2 sample (p>0.05). Quantification of caffeine in different brands of energy drink sample revealed that, four brand sample contained caffeine; among them brand 3 sample showed the highest levels of caffeine 295.86 mg/100ml and lowest amount found in brand 1 sample (101.74 mg/100ml). Concentration of Caffeine in soft and energy drinks exceeded the national and international standard recommended range hence this proposed HPLC method can be used for routine determination and control of caffeine content in different drinks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Bangladesh, riverbank erosion is a major problem that regularly displaces millions of people and affects their mental health every year. Objectives: The primary objective is to explore the effects of riverbank erosion on mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress in Bangladesh. Methods: We conducted a household survey from August 2019 to November 2019 on randomly selected adult respondents from Rajbari District located along the Ganges River and Tangail District located along the Brahmaputra River. The respondents were divided into two groups: exposed and non-exposed to riverbank erosion. All participants were asked to complete self-reported questionnaires on the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21, and other socio-demographic, economic and riverbanks erosion-related factors. We performed Chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression analysis to explore the significant risk factors (P<0.05) of mental illness (depression, anxiety and stress). Results: We surveyed 611 households, of whom 410 were from Rajbari and 201 were from Tangail. Among 611 respondents, 509 (83.31%) were exposed by riverbank erosion whereas 102 (16.69%) were non-exposed. The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress (DAS) was 38.30%, 76.60%, 32.41%, respectively, and they were significantly higher among the exposed group than the non-exposed group (depression: 45.19% versus 3.92%, P<0.001; anxiety: 82.71% versus 46.08%, P<0.001; stress: 38.11% versus 3.92%, P<0.001). The respondents exposed to river erosion were respectively 8.28, 2.26 and 5.09 times more likely to develop DAS disorder compared to their non-exposed counterparts (ORD = 8.28, 95% CI = 2.75–24.89; ORA = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.31–3.88; ORS = 5.09, 95% CI = 1.64–15.76). Females and those who lost their houses and displaced, were more likely to have DAS disorder compared to their respective counterparts. Conclusions: The exposed people were more likely to experience mental health problem and demand some social safety net programs with special focus on female and those who lost houses and displaced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the prevalence of bronchial asthma has been increasing worldwide since the 1970′s, the prevalence among 5-year-old children was significantly lower in 2016 than in 2001 in rural Bangladesh. We aimed to determine whether the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) combination vaccination (without booster) started in 2009 contributed to this decrease. Methods: A case–control study was conducted among 1658 randomly selected 5-year-old children from Matlab, Bangladesh. Data on wheezing were collected using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. The vaccination data were collected from the records of the Matlab Health and Demographic Surveillance System, while data on pneumonia were obtained from the clinical records of Matlab Hospital. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were calculated for the risk for wheezing. The reduction rate was calculated to determine the impact of the vaccination on pneumonia history between the present study and our previous study conducted in 2001 by using the following formula: (percentage of pneumonia cases in 2001 − percentage of pneumonia cases in 2016)/(percentage of pneumonia cases in 2001) times 100 (%). Results: Hib combination vaccination was a protecting factor against wheezing (aOR: 0.50; p = 0.010), while pneumonia at 1, 2, 3–4 years of age were risk factors for wheezing (aOR: 2.86, 3.19, 2.86; p = 0.046, 0.030, 0.030, respectively). The history of pneumonia was significantly lower in the 2016 study participants than those in 2001 both in the overall cohort and the wheezing group (paired t-test: p = 0.012, p < 0.001, respectively). Whereas the history of pneumonia decreased when the children grew older in the 2001 overall cohort, it peaked at the age of 2 years in 2016 wheezing group. The reduction rate decreased when children grew older in both the overall cohort and the wheezing group, however, it decreased faster in the wheezing group. Conclusions: Hib combination vaccination was a protective factor against wheezing in 0-year-old children. However, the effects of vaccination might have attenuated at the ages of 1–4 years, because no booster dose was administered. The addition of a booster dose might further decrease the prevalence of asthma and wheezing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of SERVQUAL dimensions on user satisfaction at Eastern University Library, Bangladesh. A modified SERVQUAL instrument was adapted to the local arrangements and included 30 statements under five dimensions with a seven-point Likert scale for evaluating the effects of library service quality on user satisfaction. A survey was conducted among 51 teachers and 163 undergraduate and 38 postgraduate students. The effects of five SERVQUAL dimensions were computed through multiple regression analysis, where the five dimensions were used as independent variables and user satisfaction was used as the dependent variable. The regression model was established as significant (p < 0.001) and explained the 56.9% variation in user satisfaction. The results recommended that tangible facilities (p < 0.001), staff responsiveness (p < 0.001) and the resources (p < 0.004) of the library significantly influenced user satisfaction. Several statistical methods supported the reliability and validity of the model, which will prompt further research on service quality and its impact on user satisfaction in academic libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing countries spend a lot of budget each year for elevating, widening or repairing the existing coastal rural roads. These rural roads are constructed for a design life of 10 years. But these low volume roads loose serviceability within two or three years. To find out the reasons of less sustainability, different rural road sites in coastal region were visited by the authors and sandy soil (used for Improved Subgrade) and clayey soil (borrow pit soil used for side slope and shoulder) were collected from 28 sites. Grain size analysis, liquid limit and plastic limit of collected samples were determined. Fineness Modulus (FM) of sandy soils ranged from 0.00 to 0.50 and the most borrow pit soils are lean clay. Dynamic Cone Penetration (DCP) tests were conducted on pavement and shoulder. The test results were analyzed and compared with the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) recommended DCP values for rural road by employing the AfCAP LVR-DCP software. It is found that the DCP values of base under pavement and shoulders were inadequate. Several reasons were identified which are responsible for less sustainability of rural roads. The reasons are use of unsuitable material, poor compaction, borrow pit location at toe, vehicle movement over soft shoulder, consolidation settlement due to soft soil under road embankment, inadequate design of palisading and slope protection, erosion of side slope by wave action. A new road widening methodology is proposed for making sustainable rural road in coastal areas of Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin A (VA) stores are low in early infancy and may impair development of the immune system.Objective: This study determined if neonatal VA supplementation (VAS) affects the following: 1) development of regulatory T (Treg) cells; 2) chemokine receptor 9 (CCR9) expression, which directs mucosal targeting of immune cells; and 3) systemic endotoxin exposure as indicated by changed plasma concentrations of soluble CD14 (sCD14). Secondarily, VA status, growth, and systemic inflammation were investigated.Methods: In total, 306 Bangladeshi infants were randomly assigned to receive 50,000 IU VA or placebo (PL) within 48 h of birth, and immune function was assessed at 6 wk, 15 wk, and 2 y. Primary outcomes included the following: 1) peripheral blood Treg cells; 2) percentage of Treg, T, and B cells expressing CCR9; and 3) plasma sCD14. Secondary outcomes included the following: 4) VA status measured using the modified relative dose-response (MRDR) test and plasma retinol; 5) infant growth; and 6) plasma C-reactive protein (CRP). Statistical analysis identified group differences and interactions with sex and birthweight.Results: VAS increased (P = 0.004) the percentage of CCR9+ Treg cells (13.2 ± 1.37%) relative to PL (9.17 ± 1.15%) in children below the median birthweight but had the opposite effect (P = 0.04) in those with higher birthweight (VA, 9.13 ± 0.89; PL, 12.1 ± 1.31%) at 6 and 15 wk (values are combined mean ± SE). VAS decreased (P = 0.003) plasma sCD14 (1.56 ± 0.025 mg/L) relative to PL (1.67 ± 0.032 mg/L) and decreased (P = 0.034) the prevalence of VA deficiency (2.3%) relative to PL (9.2%) at 2 y.Conclusions: Neonatal VAS enhanced mucosal targeting of Treg cells in low-birthweight infants. The decreased systemic exposure to endotoxin and improved VA status at 2 y may have been due to VA-mediated improvements in gut development resulting in improved barrier function and nutrient absorption. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01583972 and NCT02027610. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Epidemiological research on the prevalence of asthma and helminthic infections in various countries has led to the hypothesis that helminthic infections protect against asthma by suppressing the host's immune response. This study was conducted to elucidate whether decreased Ascaris infection following a national deworming program was associated with increased recurrent wheezing among rural Bangladeshi children and to test their anti‐inflammatory immunity. Methods: This nested case‐control study was conducted from December 2015 to October 2016 in the rural service area of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. Of the 1800 5–year old children randomly selected for the study, informed consent was obtained from the guardians of 1658 children. Data were collected using a semistructured questionnaire adopted from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood and blood samples for the analysis of regulatory T (Treg) cell immune responses and the balance between Th1 and Th2 immunity in Ascaris infections. Results: A total of 145 children were found to have wheezing, yielding a prevalence rate of 8.7%, which was significantly lower than the rate found in 2001 (16.2%, P < .001); Ascaris infection also decreased from 2001 to 2016. The 127 wheezing children who agreed to participate further were compared to 114 randomly selected never‐wheezing children. Wheezing had a significant positive association with antibiotic use, history of pneumonia, parents' history of asthma, and Ascaris infection; children with Ascaris infection were twice as likely to have wheezing (adjusted odds ratio = 2.31, P = .053). Flow cytometry found no significant differences in the rates of Th1, Th2, and CD4 +CD25 +CD127low cells by the wheezing group. Conclusions: Ascaris infection had a positive rather than a negative association with wheezing and the rates of wheezing and Ascaris infections both decreased from 2001 to 2016. These findings undermines the hypothesis that such infections provide protection against asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores parental aspiration for children with special needs in Early Childhood Education (ECE) settings in Bangladesh. A social justice theoretical approach framed the design of the research, and data were collected in two locales namely rural and urban areas in Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh. This study followed the case study methods, and findings suggest that there were differences among the rural and urban areas and in parental aspiration, beliefs and practices in ECE in Bangladesh. This article explores how parental aspiration varies for access and enrolment of children with special needs in ECE by exploring parental perspectives in Bangladesh. Many parents with astronomical anticipations for their children in ECE are mostly based on a distinctive mixture of childrearing and social ideals in the Bangladesh context. As an outcome, this study relates considerations of what parents anticipate their children's enrollment, readiness for schooling, and children's learning outcomes. Mostly, parental struggles and expectations are closely related to different socio-economic conditions, regions, and children's gender (transgender and girls) in line with special needs. This study attempts to explore how ECE is positioned within the multifaceted contention of Bangladeshi society where parental aspiration plays a vital role for the schooling of children with special needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study identified the influential factors for adoption of OSILS in university libraries in Bangladesh. The survey was carried out among 196 library professionals from 14 private and seven public university libraries by a structured questionnaire which was adapted cautiously as per local arrangements after conducting a pilot survey. Factors for adoption of OSILS were analyzed by multiple regressions where overall satisfaction was used as dependent variable, and 14 factors for adoption of OSILS were applied as the independent variables. The entire model of regression analysis was established to be significant and revealed that cost-effectiveness, open source code, supporting community, backup and restore systems, easy to integrate with other software, and freedom from licensing fee significantly influenced library professionals to adopt OSILS. Moreover, an effort has been made for the first time to evaluate significant factors for adoption of OSILS in university libraries of Bangladesh that will prompt future research on OSILS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The most common nosocomial infection worldwide is urinary tract infection (UTI), which can be treated with various antimicrobial agents.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of cefotaxime, a third-generation cephalosporin, against potential uropathogens.Methods: This study was carried out by retrospective analysis of laboratory data routinely collected from the Microbiology Department of the Ibn Sina Diagnostic and Consultation Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh. We used conventional methods for urine culture and sensitivity, the disc diffusion method for susceptibility, and SPSS software for data analysis.Results: A total of 3765 urine samples were collected during the period July 2017 to June 2018, of which 346 (9.19%) were bacteriologically positive. Among isolated uropathogens, 97.9% were Gram-negative bacteria and 2.1% were Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus and Enterococcus). A higher proportion of males than females were prone to UTIs in the ≤ 10 and > 60 years age groups, and a higher proportion of females than males were affected in all age groups between 10 and 60 years. Escherichia coli was the most predominant (83.8%) isolate, followed by Klebsiella spp. (5.8%). Most of the uropathogens were sensitive to cefotaxime in males. Approximately 49.3% of males and 41.6% of females were resistant to E. coli.Conclusions: Cefotaxime is still considered to be effective against uropathogens but its use should only be reserved for complicated UTIs and should follow antibiotic guidelines in order to prevent the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress can impair T cell-mediated immunity. To determine if infants with high stress responses had deficits in T-cell mediated immunity, we examined the association of pain-induced cortisol responsiveness with thymic function and vaccine responses in infants. This study was performed among 306 (male = 153 and female = 153) participants of a randomized, controlled trial examining the effect of neonatal vitamin A supplementation on immune function in Bangladesh (NCT01583972). Salivary cortisol was measured before and 20 min after a needle stick (vaccination) at 6 weeks of age. The thymic index (TI) was determined by ultrasonography at 1, 6, 10 and 15 weeks. T-cell receptor excision circle and blood T-cell concentrations were measured at 6 and 15 weeks. Responses to Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), tetanus toxoid, hepatitis B virus and oral poliovirus vaccination were assayed at 6 and 15 weeks. Cortisol responsiveness was negatively associated with TI at all ages (p <.01) in boys only, was negatively associated with naïve helper T-cell concentrations in both sexes at both 6 (p =.0035) and 15 weeks (p =.0083), and was negatively associated with the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test response to BCG vaccination at 15 weeks (p =.034) in both sexes. Infants with a higher cortisol response to pain have differences in the T-cell compartment and a lower DTH response to vaccination. Sex differences in the immune system were seen as early as 6 weeks of age in these healthy infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smoking is one of the preventable causes of disease in middle and low-income countries. This study was conducted in smokers and non-smokers to observe the changes in total count of leukocytes in cigarette smokers in relation to body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP). Methods: The study populations were from different sources including diagnostic center and general hospital, and consisted of 58 smokers and 77 non-smokers, with a broad range of age groups. The variables considered for this study were the smoking status of current smokers and non-smokers, and blood samples of the subject, anthropometric data and also blood pressure data. Results: Total leukocytes in smokers were found to be higher than the non-smokers along with the increasing of lymphocytes. Leukocytes were also found to be increased with intensity of smoking in adult men and women. The BMI of the smokers showed decreasing trend compared to non-smokers. The relation between blood pressure and smoking was not well established, as there were only little changes on systolic blood pressure (SBP) of smokers found according to smoking intensity. Conclusion: Cigarette smoking has negative effects on leukocytes both in men and women smokers in terms of certain anthropometric parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents the results of a Global Position System (GPS) survey and questionnaire survey of 195 plot buyers in land and housing development projects located in Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP) area and violations of the DMDP policy on flood flow zones and retention ponds. The findings showed that developers have significantly converted 10,128.33ha of lands in flood zones into housing projects and related project developments on natural water retention ponds violating the DMDP policy. Results highlighted that such development projects contribute to the cumulatively increasing intensity of urban floods and subsequent damages in Greater Dhaka. Review shows that although Dhaka has its flood management policies, but these are mostly involved with structural measures such as construction of embankments, floodwalls, retention ponds, and pumping stations. In addition, the paper analyzed the inherent lack of integrated planning, the lacunae within agencies in charge of urban management and resultant externalities in the built-environment. Finally, in order to protect the flood zones and retention ponds from further encroachments and severe future flood vulnerability of Greater Dhaka, the study proposed some structural and non-structural measures for policy makers to consider. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cities in developing countries are confronted with two conflicting problems. On the one hand, there is always an increasing demand for urban services and, on the other hand, the public sector responds poorly to the growing demand for such services. This articleexplores and compares the status of physical and environmental infrastructure and services provided in public and privately developed land and housing projects in Greater Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study made use of primary data gathered from April to June 2008. The findings indicate that although some households and developers are aware of the planning regulations which mandate infrastructure and services, this does not necessarily translate into compliance, particularly in privately developed housing projects. As a result, projects are usually developed with inadequate and unsatisfactory facilities. The analysis revealed that most physical and environmental infrastructure and services are either missing or unsatisfactory. These include narrow roads inconsistent with standard widths, little open space for social activities, few areas for childrens' playgrounds and poor waste management. The factors that explain the relatively low levels of physical environmental conditions in privately developed projects include an absence of inter-agency coordination, corruption, a lack of good governance, and political interference, along with disregard and apathy on the part of developers and buyers towards planning regulations. In the light of these findings, this article proposes stronger enforcement of planning regulations and more consistent monitoring by planning agencies to achieve better planned residential areas in Dhaka. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Chronic exposure to arsenic (As) by drinking shallow groundwater causes widespread disease in Bangladesh and neighboring countries. The release of As naturally present in sediment to groundwater has been linked to the reductive dissolution of iron oxides coupled to the microbial respiration of organic carbon (OC). The source of OC driving this microbial reduction-carbon deposited with the sediments or exogenous carbon transported by groundwater-is still debated despite its importance in regulating aquifer redox status and groundwater As levels. Here, we used the radiocarbon (14C) signature of microbial DNA isolated from groundwater samples to determine the relative importance of surface and sediment-derived OC. Three DNA samples collected from the shallow, high-As aquifer and one sample from the underlying, low-As aquifer were consistently younger than the total sediment carbon, by as much as several thousand years. This difference and the dominance of heterotrophic microorganisms implies that younger, surface-derived OC is advected within the aquifer, albeit more slowly than groundwater, and represents a critical pool of OC for aquifer microbial communities. The vertical profile shows that downward transport of dissolved OC is occurring on anthropogenic timescales, but bomb 14C-labeled dissolved OC has not yet accumulated in DNA and is not fueling reduction. These results indicate that advected OC controls aquifer redox status and confirm that As release is a natural process that predates human perturbations to groundwater flow. Anthropogenic perturbations, however, could affect groundwater redox conditions and As levels in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orange fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) are desirable for high productivity and profitability and their distribution to improve the nutrition of river bank inhabitants of Gaibandha and Rangpur districts of Bangladesh. In this context, a field trial was conducted in two riverbank-based farmers' fields such as Saghata, Gaibandha, and Pirganj, Rangpur, particularly in the Active Tista Floodplain Agro-ecological Zone of Bangladesh. Four OFSP varieties were evaluated, i.e., G1: BARI SP-8; G2: BARI SP-12; G3: BARI SP-14; G4: BARI SP-15, along with one local cultivar as a control (Red skin with white flesh). Significant variations among the sweet potato genotypes were noted for a number of tuberous roots plant−1, length of root diameter of roots, tuberous root weight plant−1, root yield (fresh), root yield (dry), beta-carotene yield, as well as energy output. Over the locations, BARI SP-12 produced about 73% higher root yield (32.00 t ha−1) and it was like the BARI SP-8 (31.07 t ha−1), which produced about 68% higher yield in comparison with local cultivar (18.51 t ha−1). Across the location, BARI SP-8 performed better in root yield (31.89 t ha−1) in Gaibandha, 69% superior to local cultivar, whereas BARI SP-12 performed better in Rangpur (33.66 t ha−1), which was 86% greater than the local sweet potato cultivar. Considering the root dry yield production, BARI SP-8 produced the highest in the Gaibandha location after that Rangpur location. Further, BARI SP-14 had wider adaptability and stability over the year and location depended on the AMMI model. The beta carotene yield (Vitamin-A precursor) ranged 336–2957 kg ha−1 among the OFSP varieties, whereas the highest (2957 kg ha−1) carotene was recorded in BARI SP-14, similar to BARI SP-15 (2952 kg ha−1) but was much lower in BARI SP-8 and BARI SP-12. Moreover, BARI SP-8 and BARI SP-12 were also economically profitable in terms of gross margin (3233 and 3364 US$ ha−1, respectively), net return (3039 and 3170 US$ ha−1, respectively) and BCR (3.21 and 3.31, respectively, vs. 1.91) due to higher returns with a similar production cost of the local cultivar. The results suggested that BARI SP-8 is economically profitable in the riverbank areas of Gaibandha, and BARI SP-12 is suitable for the riverbank areas of Rangpur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health risks of As exposure due to the installation of millions of shallow tubewells in the Bengal Basin are known, but fecal contamination of shallow aquifers has not systematically been examined. This could be a source of concern in densely populated areas with poor sanitation because the hydraulic travel time from surface water bodies to shallow wells that are low in As was previously shown to be considerably shorter than for shallow wells that are high in As. In this study, 125 tubewells 6-36 m deep were sampled in duplicate for 18 months to quantify the presence of the fecal indicator Escherichia coli. On any given month, E. coli was detected at levels exceeding 1 most probable number per 100 mL in 19-64% of all shallow tubewells, with a higher proportion typically following periods of heavy rainfall. The frequency of E. coli detection averaged over a year was found to increase with population surrounding a well and decrease with the As content of a well, most likely because of downward transport of E. coli associated with local recharge. The health implications of higher fecal contamination of shallow tubewells, to which millions of households in Bangladesh have switched in order to reduce their exposure to As, need to be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Air pollution is a global issue that poses a significant threat to public health. Children, due to their developing physiology, are particularly susceptible to the inhalation of environmental pollutants. Exposure can trigger immune modulation and organ damage, increasing susceptibility to respiratory diseases. Therefore, we aim to examine the association between heavy metal and particulate matter exposure with tuberculosis in children., Methods and Analysis: As a case-control study, we will include children diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (n=60) and matched healthy controls (n=80) recruited from the same communities in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Exposure data for both cases and controls will be collected by a trained field team conducting home visits. They will administer an exposure questionnaire, measure child anthropometry, collect blood and household dust samples and instal 48-hour air quality monitors. The blood samples will be analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for serum heavy metal concentrations (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury and chromium), as a representative marker of exposure, and the presence of inflammatory biomarkers. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including independent samples t-tests, analysis of variance and conditional regression analysis, will be used to quantify heavy metal and particulate matter exposure status in tuberculosis cases compared with healthy controls, while accounting for potential confounders. Dust samples and air quality results will be analysed to understand household sources of heavy metal and particulate matter exposure. To test the study hypothesis, there is a positive association between exposure and tuberculosis diseases, we will also measure the accumulated effect of simultaneous exposures using Bayesian statistical modelling., Ethics and Dissemination: This study has been approved by International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh's Institutional Review Board (PR-22030). The study findings will be disseminated at conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Chronic illness with disability and its out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) remains a big financial challenge in Bangladesh. The purpose of this study was to explore how religious minority problem and coastal climate crisis with other common risk factors determined chronic illness with a disability and its financial burden in Bangladesh. Existing policy responses, especially, social safety net programs and their governance were analyzed for suggesting better policy options that avoid distress financing., Methods: Binary logistic and multiple linear regression models were respectively used to identify the factors of disability, and high OOPE based on Bangladesh Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2016 data., Results: We found that disable people had relatively higher OOPE than their non-disabled counterparts and this OOPE further surges when the number of disabilities increases. In addition to the common factors, the novelty of our findings indicated that the religious minority problem as well as the coastal climate crisis have bearing on the disability burden in Bangladesh. The likelihood of having a chronic illness with a disability was 13.2% higher for the religious minorities compared to the majorities (Odds ratio (OR): 1.132, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.033-1.241) and it was 21.6% higher for the people who lived in the exposed coast than those who lived in the non-exposed area (OR: 1.216, 95% CI: 1.107-1.335). With disabilities, people from the exposed coast incurred higher OOPE than those from the non-exposed areas. Although receiving assistance from social safety net programs (SSNPs) seemed to reduce their high OOPE and financial distress such as selling assets and being indebted, the distribution was not equitably and efficiently managed to confirm the process of inclusion leakage-free. On average, those who enrolled from the minority group and the exposed coast paid the relatively higher bribes., Conclusions: To reduce burden, the government should strengthen and specify the existing SSNPs more for disable people, especially from the minority group and the exposed coast, and ensure the selection process more inclusive and leakage-free., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Age-appropriate vaccination is crucial for infants, protecting them from vaccine-preventable diseases. Delaying in starting initial immunization may result in incomplete or non-vaccination in early life. However, limited vaccine coverage data are available regarding the starting age of vaccination. In this study, we determined the factors associated with the delay in infant immunization. We carried out a cross-sectional study at three maternal-child health clinics in Dhaka city. Mothers visited these clinics for their infant immunization were surveyed with structured questionnaires. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to estimate the significant influencing factors on untimely vaccination. A total of 548 mother-infant pairs were surveyed. 46.5% of mothers did not receive Tetanus (TT) vaccines, and mothers who had a previous pregnancy were less likely to receive TT-vaccine ( p < .01). 41.2% of infants did not receive BCG vaccines within 1-week of birth. Mothers working outside the home showed a negative impact on BCG vaccination ( p < .05). Among the infants' born in-clinic facilities, 39% were BCG unvaccinated, and 69% had c-section delivery. The median age of infants for starting vaccination was 6.57 wks (95% CI: 6.43-7.14); however, 17.3% infants received vaccination at ≥8 wks of age. Mother's schooling-years and infant normal body-weight positively associated with vaccination at <8 wks, whereas sickness after birth increased the age to start vaccination program recommended at 6 wks. Our analysis suggests the need for specific interventions based on potential maternal determinants, such as educating mothers about the timing and the importance of infant immunization, and addressing programmatic barriers to timely vaccination among infants in Bangladesh.

Groundwater is routinely analyzed for fecal indicators but direct comparisons of fecal indicators to the presence of bacterial and viral pathogens are rare. This study was conducted in rural Bangladesh where the human population density is high, sanitation is poor, and groundwater pumped from shallow tubewells is often contaminated with fecal bacteria. Five indicator microorganisms (E. coli, total coliform, F+RNA coliphage, Bacteroides and human-associated Bacteroides) and various environmental parameters were compared to the direct detection of waterborne pathogens by quantitative PCR in groundwater pumped from 50 tubewells. Rotavirus was detected in groundwater filtrate from the largest proportion of tubewells (40%), followed by Shigella (10%), Vibrio (10%), and pathogenic E. coli (8%). Spearman rank correlations and sensitivity-specificity calculations indicate that some, but not all, combinations of indicators and environmental parameters can predict the presence of pathogens. Culture-dependent fecal indicator bacteria measured on a single date did not predict total bacterial pathogens, but annually averaged monthly measurements of culturable E. coli did improve prediction for total bacterial pathogens. A qPCR-based E. coli assay was the best indicator for the bacterial pathogens. F+RNA coliphage were neither correlated nor sufficiently sensitive towards rotavirus, but were predictive of bacterial pathogens. Since groundwater cannot be excluded as a significant source of diarrheal disease in Bangladesh and neighboring countries with similar characteristics, the need to develop more effective methods for screening tubewells with respect to microbial contamination is necessary., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)