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The use of Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT) and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approaches in English as Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms has recently gained special attention. In the context of Bangladesh, "English for Academic Purposes," a contextualized TBLT module prepared jointly by British Council and University Grant Commission Bangladesh, was piloted in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses in private universities in Bangladesh. This study explores TBLT and CLIL teachers' perceptions regarding feedback and how the success of TBLT and CLIL relates to providing feedback to the students of a large English class at the tertiary level. A mixed-method research design was adopted, including a questionnaire(n=50) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) (n=10) as research instruments among the English teachers at different universities. The results indicated that the classroom teachers as research participants were positive about providing corrective feedback to learners' tasks in TBLT and CLIL classes. The participating teachers suggest some feasible and plausible ways and strategies to provide effective feedback to the students of a large English class.

Studies from high-income populations have shown that stimulating, supportive communicative input from parents promote children's cognitive and language development. However, fewer studies have identified specific features of input supporting the healthy development of children growing up in low- or middle-income countries. The current study proposes and tests a multi-dimensional framework for understanding whether and how caregiver communicative input mediates the associations between socio-economic conditions and early development. We also examine how caregiver conceptual scaffolding and autonomy support uniquely and synergistically explain variation in child outcomes. Participants were 71 Bangladeshi families with five-year-olds who were exposed to a range of biological and psychosocial hazards from birth. Caregiver-child interactions during snack sharing and semi-structured play were coded for caregiver conceptual scaffolding, autonomy support, and child engagement. Findings indicate that the two dimensions of input were correlated, suggesting that caregivers who provided richer conceptual scaffolds were simultaneously more supportive of children's autonomy. Notably, conceptual scaffolding and autonomy support each mediated associations between maternal education and child verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) scores. Further, caregivers who supported greater autonomy in their children had children who participated in conversations more actively, and these children in turn had higher performance IQ scores. When considered simultaneously, conceptual scaffolding was associated with verbal IQ over and above autonomy support, whereas autonomy support related to child engagement, controlling for conceptual scaffolding. These findings shed new light on how environmental factors may support early development, contributing to the design of family-centered, culturally authentic interventions. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://youtu.be/9v_8sIv7ako

This study intends to focus on the application of English literature in developing four language skills and language areas like vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation of undergraduate English learners in Bangladesh. The study also pays attention to the role of different genres of literature (i.e. poetry, short fiction, drama and novel) in the way of language teaching-learning process. Data were collected from university students and teachers through qualitative approach. The study revealed that respondents enjoyed learning English language through literature which played a significant role in developing four skills. Moreover, by reading literature, they have got interesting resources with authentic context which have provided a strong motivation for language learning. Literature readers can use authentic models for the norms of language use. It helps to enrich vocabulary and develop analytical and interpretive skills of a learner. In addition, reading literature in native languages was helpful to understand the inner meaning for the respondents. Most of them opined that, grammatical competence would be a prevalent factor to understand literature. They agreed that without having basic knowledge on grammar, a learner might face difficulties to learn a particular language thoroughly. Hence, they identified literature as a potential tool for communicative language teaching approach.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of language teaching being more and more communication oriented. The traditional classroom teaching is facing a big challenge and is gradually being replaced by learner-centered approaches putting learner as individual into the core of learning process. This means learner autonomy gets to be enhanced to meet the need of the new teaching mode. While a great deal of researches have been done on the concept and development of learner autonomy , limited studies have investigated the ways and means of classroom practices of teachers in fostering learner autonomy in tertiary level EFL/ESL classrooms in Bangladesh. This paper examines what teachers think about learner autonomy as well as the strategies they use to develop learners autonomy in a university setting using a qualitative approach. The findings revealed that although university teachers are acquainted with what learner autonomy means, there are some challenges of developing learner autonomy in the classroom due to a number of lacking, such as teacher's preparation, students' reluctant attitude, suitability for different disciplined students and class timing.

Purpose: It is still unclear how Asian universities incorporate the theory or practice of sustainable development (SD) in their research and education programmes. To address this gap, the purpose of this paper is to report on a study that has examined how universities in Asian countries handle and address matters related to SD. Design/methodology/approach: The study used a bibliometric analysis and an online survey-method. The online survey data were analysed through descriptive analysis and one-sample student's "t"-test. Findings: The study indicates that there is considerable variation among the Asian countries regarding sustainability practices in higher education institutions (HEIs). The HEIs in far eastern countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are perceived to demonstrate more sustainability practices. Research limitations/implications: Even though a substantial number of participants participated in the survey, it did not cover all Asian countries. The online survey was carried out over a limited period of time, and not all HEIs in the field may have received information about the study. Practical implications: Asia is the largest continent facing a number of sustainability challenges. In this context, the contribution of HEIs is very important. The findings of the current study may serve as a baseline for Asian HEIs to take more initiatives towards SD goals, as HEIs are responsible for the education and training of hundreds of thousands of students who will be occupying key positions in industry, government or education in the coming years. Originality/value: The study contributes to the existing literature in two distinct ways. First, it was possible to develop a comprehensive instrument to measure sustainability practices in HEIs. Second, this study has filled the gap of the scarcity of studies regarding sustainability practices in HEIs in Asia.

Medicinal plants (MPs) generate cash income and save millions of people in Bangladesh. The aim of this study is to identify farmers' motivational factors to cultivate MPs. This study is based on primary data collected from 196 sample households from two MP-growing districts of Bangladesh. Three MPs, namely, Aloe vera, Bombax ceiba, and Withania somnifera, were considered for this study. Principal component analysis (PCA), the z test, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and factor analysis (FA) were used in this study. The results showed that household size and male-headed household status are driving socioeconomic factors. Ownership of water pumps, number of rooms in the house, access to contract marketing, and off-farm income are significant economic factors encouraging households to cultivate MPs. Farming experience, scientific knowledge, access to high land and access to loamy land are significant biophysical factors motivating farmers to cultivate MPs. More technical support and institutionalized contract marketing systems should be continued and established for the sustainability of MP cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The global pandemic caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 has underlined the significance of strict genomic surveillance to track virus evolution and the possible emergence of new variants, particularly in densely populated countries like Bangladesh. This study outlines a strategic framework of genomic surveillance to track the evolution of the virus in Bangladesh between June 2021 and December 2022 through the National SARS‐CoV‐2 Variant Surveillance (NSVS) program involving collaboration across 4 major institutes and 13 hospitals nationwide. Methods: We aimed to capture the variants of SARS‐CoV‐2 throughout the country utilizing standardized procedures, modern sequencing technology, and stringent quality control, promoting data accuracy and the timely detection of new variants of concern. We sequenced over 2200 genomes, documenting the prevalence of the Delta variant initially, followed by the emergence of Omicron variants BA.1, BA.2, BA.5, and XBB, each affecting transmission rates and vaccine efficacy differently. Results: The clinical manifestations of the variants differed, with some symptoms occurring more frequently in Delta cases and vice versa. Vaccinated individuals were more affected by Omicron cases compared to Delta cases. These variants were responsible for two major COVID‐19 waves in the country, each with significant clinical effects. Phylogenetic analyses placed the local SARS‐CoV‐2 variants within a global context, indicating the Delta variant likely entered from India and Omicron from Europe. Conclusion: This research highlights the significance of collaborative surveillance strategies for guiding public health choices and the critical role of genomic analysis in monitoring virus evolution, shaping targeted pandemic responses. Bangladesh's contributions significantly enhance global insight into COVID‐19's genomic evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TPO (Thyroid Peroxidase) is known to be one of the major genes involved in congenital hypothyroid patients with thyroid dyshormonogenesis. The present study aims to validate high-resolution melting (HRM) curve analysis as a substitute method for Sanger sequencing, focusing on the frequently observed non-synonymous mutations c.1117G>T, c.1193G>C, and c.2173A>C in the TPO gene in patients from Bangladesh. We enrolled 36 confirmed cases of congenital hypothyroid patients with dyshormonogenesis to establish the HRM method. Blood specimens were collected, and DNA was extracted followed by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Among the 36 specimens, 20 were pre-sequenced, and variants were characterized through Sanger sequencing. Following pre-sequencing, the 20 pre-sequenced specimens underwent real-time PCR-HRM curve analysis to determine the proper HRM condition for separating the three variations from the wild-type state into heterozygous and homozygous states. Furthermore, 16 unknown specimens were subjected to HRM analysis to validate the method. This method demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 100 percent in accurately discerning wild-type alleles from both homozygous and heterozygous states of c.1117G>T (23/36; 63.8%), c.1193G>C (30/36; 83.3%), and c.2173A>C (23/36; 63.8%) variants frequently encountered among 36 Bangladeshi patients. The HRM data was found to be similar to the sequencing result, thus confirming the validity of the HRM approach for TPO gene variant detection. In conclusion, HRM-based molecular technique targeting variants c.1117G>T, c.1193G>C, and c.2173A>C could be used as a high throughput, rapid, reliable, and cost-effective screening approach for the detection of all common mutations in TPO gene in Bangladeshi patients with dyshormonogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the challenges of promoting inclusive education in geographically isolated rural communities in Bangladesh. Inclusion is explored from both government and non-government (NGO) providers, and identifies challenges and opportunities for implementing inclusive practices. Challenges for implementing inclusion are linked to poverty, gender inequality, ethnicity, remoteness, language barriers, issues for children with disabilities, and the negative impact of climate (e.g. monsoonal flooding, landslides, and other natural calamities that beset Bangladesh on a regular basis) as well as the current humanitarian crisis with the Rohingya children now in Bangladesh. While there is sometimes a mismatch between government policy and the literature on inclusion in relation to practical implementation at the local level, opportunities for inclusion come with the dedication and passion of educators who provide teacher training about inclusive education, assistive technologies (Braille materials, hearing aids, etc.), multi-lingual education (MLE) materials, and advocacy by reaching out to parents and community members. Findings indicate that characteristics such as culture, the development of local resources, and the climate of the local context need to be considered in developing relevant inclusive policy to enact effective geographical inclusive practices in rural Bangladeshi communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on public health, extending to the food system and people's livelihoods worldwide, including Bangladesh. This study aimed to ascertain the COVID-19 pandemic impacts on livelihood assets in the North-Western areas (Rajshahi and Rangpur) of Bangladesh. Primary data were collected from 320 farmers engaged in high-value agriculture using a multistage sampling method. The data were analysed using first-order structural equation modelling. The findings reveal a significant impact (p < 0.01) of the pandemic on all livelihood assets in Bangladesh. Notably, human assets exhibited the highest impact, with a coefficient of 0.740, followed sequentially by financial (0.709), social (0.684), natural (0.600), physical (0.542), and psychological (0.537) assets. Government-imposed lockdowns and mobility restrictions were identified as the major causes of the pandemic's negative effects on livelihoods, which included lost income, rising food prices, decreased purchasing power, inadequate access to food and medical supplies, increased social insecurity, and a rise in depression, worry, and anxiety among farmers. The effects of COVID-19 and associated policy measures on the livelihoods of high-value crop farmers have reversed substantial economic and nutritional advances gained over the previous decade. This study suggests attention to the sustainable livelihoods of farmers through direct cash transfer and input incentive programs to minimize their vulnerability to a pandemic like COVID-19 or any other crisis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The emergence of the COVID‐19 pandemic led to the adoption of telework modalities by individuals in Bangladesh. The study's objective was to determine the job satisfaction and performance level of employed Bangladeshi women working from home during the COVID‐19 pandemic lockdown. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted among women employees of different professions in Dhaka city. The Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) was used to measure job satisfaction. Work arrangement satisfaction and self‐reported performance were measured by two separate subscales which contain five items each. Responses from 118 employed women were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi‐square tests, Independent t‐tests, one‐way analysis of variance, and Pearson Correlation tests through the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), version 26. Results: The findings indicated that 51.7% of women reported a high degree of satisfaction on the MSQ scale; 61.9% expressed high satisfaction with their work arrangements at home and 66.9% reported a high level of performance. Job satisfaction was significantly associated with the number of children and the number of family members. A positive association was found between job satisfaction and total working experience and work arrangements. Work performance was strongly associated with higher educational qualifications. A statistically significant association between job satisfaction and performance was revealed. Conclusions: The findings from this study indicated a high degree of job satisfaction and a high level of performance found in women employees who worked from home during the COVID‐19 pandemic. These findings encourage organizations to foster more policies for telework alternatives for employed women to help them keep a balance between work responsibilities and household chores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The dysbiosis of vaginal microbiota is recognized as a potential underlying factor contributing to infertility in women. This study aimed to compare the vaginal microbiomes of infertile and fertile women to investigate their relationship with infertility. Methods: Metagenomic analysis was conducted on samples from 5 infertile and 5 fertile individuals using both amplicon 16S and metagenomics shotgun sequencing methods. Results and discussion: In the infertile group, the bacterial community was primarily represented by three major bacterial genera: Lactobacillus (79.42%), Gardnerella (12.56%) and Prevotella (3.33%), whereas, the fertile group exhibited a more diverse composition with over 8 major bacterial genera, accompanied by significantly reduced abundance of Lactobacillus (48.79%) and Gardnerella (6.98%). At the species level, higher abundances of L. iners, L. gasseri and G. vaginalis were observed in the infertile group. Regarding the microbiome composition, only one fertile and two infertile subjects exhibited the healthiest Community State Types, CST-1, while CST-3 was observed among two infertile and one fertile subject, and CST-4 in three other fertile and one infertile subject. Overall, alpha diversity metrics indicated greater diversity and lower species richness in the control (fertile) group, while the infertile group displayed the opposite trend. However, beta-diversity analysis did not show distinct clustering of samples associated with any specific group; instead, it demonstrated CST-type specific clustering. Shotgun metagenomics further confirmed the dominance of Firmicutes, with a greater abundance of Lactobacillus species in the infertile group. Specifically, L. iners and G. vaginalis were identified as the most dominant and highly abundant in the infertile group. Fungi were only identified in the control group, dominated by Penicillium citrinum (62.5%). Metagenomeassembled genomes (MAGs) corroborated read-based taxonomic profiling, with the taxon L. johnsonii identified exclusively in disease samples. MAG identities shared by both groups include Shamonda orthobunyavirus, L. crispatus, Human endogenous retrovirus K113, L. iners, and G. vaginalis. Interestingly, the healthy microbiomes sequenced in this study contained two clusters, Penicillium and Staphylococcus haemolyticus, not found in the public dataset. In conclusion, this study suggests that lower species diversity with a higher abundance of L. iners, L. gasseri and G. vaginalis, may contribute to female infertility in our study datasets. However, larger sample sizes are necessary to further evaluate such association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pama Croaker, Otolithoides pama, is an economically important fish species in Bangladesh. Intra-family similarities in morphology and typical barcode sequences of cox1 create ambiguities in its identification. Therefore, morphology and the complete mitochondrial genome of O. pama, and comparative mitogenomics within the family Sciaenidae have been studied. Extracted genomic DNA was subjected to Illumina-based short read sequencing for De-Novo mitogenome assembly. The complete mitogenome of O. pama (Accession: OQ784575.1) was 16,513 bp, with strong AC biasness and strand asymmetry. Relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) among 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) of O. pama was also analyzed. The studied mitogenomes including O. pama exhibited consistent sizes and gene orders, except for the genus Johnius which possessed notably longer mitogenomes with unique gene rearrangements. Different genetic distance metrics across 30 species of Sciaenidae family demonstrated 12S rRNA and the control region (CR) as the most conserved and variable regions, respectively, while most of the PCGs undergone a purifying selection. Different phylogenetic trees were congruent with one another, where O. pama was distinctly placed. This study would contribute to distinguishing closely related fish species of Sciaenidae family and can be instrumental in conserving the genetic diversity of O. pama. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security and livelihood vulnerability are important issues for the economic sustainability of developing countries like Bangladesh. This study examines the influence of total factor productivity (TFP) on the livelihood vulnerability and food security of rice farming households in Bangladesh. Data from 1,841 rice farming households were extracted from the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (2015 and 2018) conducted by the International Food Policy Research Institute. Various statistical methods, such as the stochastic frontier model, principal component analysis, path analysis using structural equation modeling, and multivariate regression, were employed to analyze the data. The study utilizes a multivariate modeling approach that combines the stochastic frontier model to determine TFP and sophisticated methodologies to estimate the livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) and women's empowerment in agriculture index (WEAI). The LVI, household dietary diversity Score (HDDS), TFP, and WEAI scores were 0.454, 10.72, 0.703, and 0.717, respectively. The results indicate a significant relationship between TFP and both LVI and HDDS. Higher TFP is associated with lower LVI and higher HDDS among rice farming households, suggesting that improving TFP can enhance food security and reduce vulnerability. The multivariate regression analysis reveals that TFP, household wealth index, women's empowerment in agriculture index, per capita food expenditure, household level welfare, and household size have a positive significant impact on HDDS, while TFP is negatively associated with LVI, per capita food expenditure and household size. The findings underscore the importance of increasing TFP to improve food security, reduce livelihood vulnerability, and achieve sustainable development goals in countries like Bangladesh. Higher TFP yields positive outcomes regarding household dietary diversity and livelihood vulnerability, highlighting the need for agricultural policies that prioritize TFP enhancement. Policymakers and professionals can use these findings as a roadmap to implement advanced agricultural policies to achieve food security and reduce livelihood vulnerability. Improving household dietary diversity and reducing livelihood vulnerability can be achieved by focusing on increasing TFP, enhancing household wealth, women's empowerment, per capita food expenditure, household welfare, and household size. Therefore, increasing TFP should be considered in the design of policies aiming to achieve SDGs Goal 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the potentiality of cell phone use in the EFL classroom of Bangladesh as an instructional tool. The researcher conducted a case study on Jahangirnagar University of Bangladesh. For the study, some SMS based class tests were conducted in the English Department of the university where one hundred undergraduate EFL students participated as subjects. Before the tests, Some EFL teachers sent mobile SMS to students as a means of instruction for teaching appropriate use of preposition for one week. After one week, the teachers took some class tests where the test questions were delivered via SMS and the students also answered the test questions by mobile SMS. The author collected data through students' questionnaires, and teachers' interview records and classroom observation reports. The research results demonstrated that cell phone has great potential as an instructional tool despite some challenges that can be resolved by the sincere attempts of the authority, teachers and by changing the ethical point of view that consider cell phones as merely a disturbing factor in the classroom.

In Bangladesh, the system of assessment has always been guided by curriculum though the system only covered learners' ability of memorization and comprehension skills. Other categories of skills in the knowledge like application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation are hardly included in the assessment. Besides, some of the essential qualities such as oral presentation, leadership, tolerance, co-operative attitude, school behavior, co-curricular activities, and social values are not included in the assessment system. As a result, learners' trend to rely heavily on their memorization skill leads them to become crippled lacking required excellence to contribute fruitfully to the society. The government of Bangladesh has timely envisaged the reservation of its education system and has justly adjudicated the School Based Assessment (SBA) aspiring learners' holistic development. SBA has been implemented in junior secondary levels of general education in June, 2007. This paper reveals the current situation of the recently applied assessment system through a study of a group of teachers of secondary level and SBA trainers. It will discuss the issues that emerge from the arguments of the scholars that they hold regarding SBA and its potentiality in the context of Bangladesh.

Aim: Malnutrition in pregnant women significantly affects both mother and child health. This research aims to identify the best machine learning (ML) techniques for predicting the nutritional status of pregnant women in Bangladesh and detect the most essential features based on the best-performed algorithm. Methods: This study used retrospective cross-sectional data from the Bangladeshi Demographic and Health Survey 2017–18. Different feature transformations and machine learning classifiers were applied to find the best transformation and classification model. Results: This investigation found that robust scaling outperformed all feature transformation methods. The result shows that the Random Forest algorithm with robust scaling outperforms all other machine learning algorithms with 74.75% accuracy, 57.91% kappa statistics, 73.36% precision, 73.08% recall, and 73.09% f1 score. In addition, the Random Forest algorithm had the highest precision (76.76%) and f1 score (71.71%) for predicting the underweight class, as well as an expected precision of 82.01% and f1 score of 83.78% for the overweight/obese class when compared to other algorithms with a robust scaling method. The respondent's age, wealth index, region, husband's education level, husband's age, and occupation were crucial features for predicting the nutritional status of pregnant women in Bangladesh. Conclusion: The proposed classifier could help predict the expected outcome and reduce the burden of malnutrition among pregnant women in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have shown that endophytic fungal metabolites possess vital biological activities; nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the medicinally important marine endophytic fungi associated with the seaweeds mainly found in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. In this study, six endophytic fungi, belonging to five genera and four classes, were isolated from the well-known chlorophyte, Ulva sp. and were most closely related to Chaetomium globosum, Nigrospora magnoliae, Curvularia sp., Curvularia moringae, Aspergillus terreus and Collariella sp. This is the first report of these fungi as endophytes associated with Ulva sp. from the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. A preliminary biological evaluation of the ethyl acetate extract of each endophytic fungal crude extract was the prime objective of this research, e.g., antimicrobial assay, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity and brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Evaluation of test results revealed that each fungal crude extract possessed one or more relevant biological activities. Preliminary chemical screening using TLC and NMR spectroscopic analysis revealed the presence of several secondary metabolites in the crude fungal extracts. These findings suggest that the marine endophytic fungus may be a valuable source for investigating potentially bioactive chemicals or leads for novel drug candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a globally recognized public health concern, yet research focusing on women in urban areas of Bangladesh remains unexplored. This study aimed to address this research gap by investigating the prevalence and associated factors of PPD within the first 2 years after childbirth. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted, enrolling 259 women (26.66 ± 4.57 years) residing in urban areas who were attending healthcare delivery centers. Sociodemographic factors, child‐related issues, pregnancy‐related complications, and PPD using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were used for data collection. Data analysis involved the application of χ2 tests and logistic regression analysis using SPSS software. Results: This study found a 60.6% prevalence of PPD using a cutoff of 10 (out of 30) on the EPDS scale. Logistic regression analysis identified several significant factors associated with PPD, including high monthly family income (odds ratio [OR] = 47.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.34–270.54, p < 0.001), income dissatisfaction (OR = 14.28, 95% CI: 4.75–42.87, p < 0.001), up to two gravidities (OR = 2.94, 95% CI = 1.25–6.90, p = 0.013), pregnancy‐related complications (OR = 2.70, 95% CI = 1.05–6.96, p = 0.039), increased antenatal care visits, and higher childbirth expenses. Conclusion: This study underscores the high prevalence of PPD among urban mothers in Bangladesh. The identified risk factors emphasize the need for targeted mental health initiatives, specifically tailored to support the vulnerable group. Implementing such initiatives can effectively address the challenges posed by PPD and enhance the well‐being of postpartum women in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the determinants of the food security status of participants and non-participants of livestock extension services living under similar socioeconomic conditions as livestock farming households in the Feed the Future zone of Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach: Cross-sectional data of 906 farm-households extracted from a total of 2064 from the Feed the Future representative Bangladesh Integrated Households Survey 2018 were used. A triple hurdle model combined with a structural equation model were used to analyze the data. The causal relationship between food security status, livestock extension services, technology adoption and women's empowerment was investigated by estimating structural equation modeling with second-order latent factors. Findings: The results indicate that livestock extension services have increased livestock technology adoption and have a positively significant (p < 0.01) relationship with household wealth, food security, welfare and women's empowerment. Originality/value: The results suggest that livestock extension services have an impact on new technology adoption and enhancing women's empowerment; thus, the services should be widely made available in the region. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-11-2021-0647. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diagnosis of IIH (idiopathic intracranial hypertension) in children is challenging. The pathogenesis of IIH is still largely unknown. The aim of this study to evaluate the clinico-demographic profile and short-term outcome of IIH among Bangladeshi children. Methodology: This observational cohort study was done in pediatric Neurology Department, National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital Bangladesh from January 2018 to July 2019. Total 19 cases were enrolled who were clinically suspected and/or had normal CSF with opening pressure (OP) above 250 mmH2O. They were further categorized as "definite IIH", definite IIH without papilledema, and "probable IIH". Clinical, radiological profile and shortterm outcome were analyzed by SPSS version 22. Result: Among them most were probable IIH (74%). Episodic (57.9%), moderate, diffuse headache was the predominant symptom along with vomiting, double vision, unilateral VI nerve palsy and papilledema. Obesity was found in 21% cases. Mean CSF pressure was 21.84+7.62cm H2O and found high in definite IIH. All the cases were treated with acetazolamide and serial LP was done in 4(15.8%) cases. Definite IIH requires longer hospital stay (6.42 ± 2.87days). Recurrence was observed in 10.5% cases and visual impairment was found in 15.8% cases. Conclusion: This study found wide range of diversity between clinical feature and CSF opening pressure in Pediatric IIH and diagnostic confirmation was challenging. Initial treatment response was satisfactory with a low recurrence rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish provide an affordable and readily available source of animal protein for human consumption that plays a vital role in maintaining the livelihoods of Bangladeshi people. The study was conducted to evaluate the proximate composition of five different small indigenous fish species (SIS): viz., Glossogobius giuris, Mastacembelus pancalus, Mystus tengra, Heteropneustes fossilis, and Puntius ticto. The samples were collected from the Mathabhanga River. The proximate composition of the studied samples revealed varying proportions of moisture content (68.60 to 79.05%), crude protein (46.22 to 65.99%), crude fat (4.77 to 22.93%), ash content (12.03 to 19.22%), carbohydrate (11.22 to 15.73%), crude fiber (0.09 to 0.25%), whereas the energy value was 374.04 to 444.91Kcal/100g. Among the examined fish species, Glossogobius giuris contained significantly (P< 0.5) higher level of protein content but less amount of lipid content. Addittionally, Puntius ticto showed significantly (P< 0.05) higher lipid, ash and energy contents as compared to others. The results of the study clearly revealed that Glossogobius giuris and Puntius ticto fish species are rich in macronutrients in alliance with the tested fish species. Hence, the research findings suggest that commonly consumed small indigenous fish species (SIS) offer a valuable source of high-quality protein and essential macronutrients. This implies that the consumption of these fish can help alleviate protein and other nutrient deficiency, as well as livelihood security in Bangladesh. Further biochemical and molecular research can be conducted to analyze all the essential nutrients and genetic improvement of the fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadequate hand hygiene is estimated to result in nearly 300,000 deaths annually, with the majority of deaths being among children younger than 5 years. In an effort to promote handwashing with soap and water treatment behaviors among highly susceptible household members of cholera patients, we recently developed the Cholera-Hospital-Based Intervention-for-7-Days (CHoBI7); "chobi" means picture in Bengali. This 1-week handwashing with soap and water treatment intervention is delivered by a promoter in the hospital and the home to cholera patients and their household members. In our randomized controlled trial of this intervention, we observed a significant reduction in symptomatic cholera infections during the 1-week intervention period compared to the control arm and sustained high uptake of observed handwashing with soap behaviors up to 12 months postintervention. The aim of the present study was to assess the underlying mechanism of change that led to the high handwashing with soap behavior observed among participants who received the CHoBI7 intervention. Handwashing with soap was measured using 5-hour structured observation, and psychosocial factors were assessed using a structured questionnaire among 170 intervention and 174 control household members enrolled in the CHoBI7 trial. To investigate potential mediators of the CHoBI7 intervention effect, mediation models were performed. Response efficacy was found to mediate the intervention's effect on habit formation for handwashing with soap at the 1-week follow-up, and disgust, convenience, and cholera awareness were mediators of habit maintenance at the 6- to 12-month follow-up. These results support the use of theory-driven approaches for the development and implementation of handwashing with soap interventions.

Growing climate change adaptation issues are driving the demand for efficient solutions in the agriculture sector, which will improve farmers' livelihoods and economic situations. This study examined the perceptions of major climate risks and factors driving adoption of climate adaptation strategies in saline coastal areas of Bangladesh. Survey data were collected from 100 farmers producing Rabi crops by using a semi-structured questionnaire. A binary logistic model was used to identify the driving factors of the adoption of adaptation strategies. Results revealed that farmers' group membership and perception of a decrease in rain frequency influenced adoption of intercropping, while experience in farming, owned farmland size and perception of increase in soil salinity influenced adoption of mulching. In addition, age, group membership and perception of a decrease in rain frequency had a positive influence on adoption of use of mini pond. Furthermore, household size and access to training influenced adoption of changing sowing time, while farming experience had a positive influence on change in cropping pattern. These findings suggest an opportunity for institution-led support for providing farmers with hands-on training. Developing collaboration with research institutes, the ministry of agriculture, extension, development partners and civic leaders for enhancing farmers' group membership capacity would be of benefit on increasing the adaptive capacity of farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater discharged from hospitals is a recognized contributor to the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their associated genetic traits into the environment. This study focused on the analysis of β-lactamaseproducing pathogenic bacteria within untreated biomedical wastewater originating from various hospitals in Dhaka City, Bangladesh, as well as in silico evaluation and structural activity relationship mentioned antibiotics were evaluated. In silico drug design techniques were applied to identify the relationship with how the functional group impacts the binding energy. Out of the 184 isolates obtained from well-established hospital sewage discharge points in Dhaka, 89 were identified as β-lactamase positive. These bacteria were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the VITEK-2 assay, and their profiles of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production were determined through molecular methodologies. Among the β-lactamase-positive isolates, considerable resistance was observed, particularly against ampicillin, Ceftriaxone, Cefuroxime, and Meropenem. The predominant resistant species included Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter cloacae. The study identified the prevalence of ESBL-producing genes, with blaNDM-1 being the most prevalent, followed by blaOXA-1, blaSHV, blaCTX-M, and blaKPC. None of the isolates carried the blaTEM gene. In addition to characterizing these bacteria, the research explored ways to enhance the binding energy of four existing antibiotics as new inhibitors through computational studies. The findings revealed significant improvements in binding energy. Specifically, Meropenem initially exhibited a binding energy of -7.5 kcal/mol, notably increasing to -8.3 kcal/mol after modification. With an initial binding energy was only -7.9 kcal/mol, Ampicillin experienced an enhancement, reaching -8.0 kcal/mol post-modification. Similarly, Ceftriaxone, with an initial binding energy of -8.2 kcal/mol, increased to -8.5 kcal/mol following structural adjustments. Finally, Cefuroxime, initially registering a binding energy of -7.1 kcal/mol, substantially increased to -8.9 kcal/mol after modification. This finding establishes a foundation for future investigations in the development of modified antibiotics to address the issue of antibiotic resistance. It presents prospective remedies for the persistent problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in healthcare and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although under-five mortality has declined appreciably in Bangladesh over the last few decades, neonatal mortality still remains high. The objective of the study is to assess the level and determinants of preterm birth and the contribution of preterm birth to neonatal mortality. Methods: Data for this study came from selected slums in and around Dhaka city, where; since 2015, icddr,b has been maintaining the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS). The HDSS data were collected by female Field Workers by visiting each household every three months; however, during the visit, data on the Last Menstrual Period (LMP) were also collected by asking each eligible woman to ascertain the date of conception. Gestational age was estimated in complete weeks by subtracting LMP from the date of the pregnancy outcome. In this study, 6,989 livebirths were recorded by HDSS during 2016–2018, and these births were followed for neonatal survival; both bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results: Out of total births, 21.7% were born preterm (before 37 weeks of gestation), and sub-categories were: 2.19% for very preterm (28 to 31 weeks), 3.81% for moderate preterm (32 to 33 weeks), and 15.71% for late preterm (34 to 36 weeks). The study revealed that preterm babies contributed to 39.6% of neonatal deaths; however, the probability of death was very high on the 1st day of birth (0.124 for very preterm, 0.048 for moderate preterm, 0.024 for late preterm, and 0.013 for term birth), and continued until the 3rd day. In the regression analysis, compared to the term neonates, the odds of neonatal mortality were 8.66 (CI: 5.63, 13.32, p<0.01), 4.13 (CI: 2.69, 6.34, p<0.01) and 1.48 (CI: 1.05, 2.08, p<0.05) respectively for very, moderate, and late preterm birth categories. The population attributable fraction for neonatal mortality was 23%, and sub-categories were 14% for very preterm, 10% for moderate preterm, and 6% for late preterm. Conclusions: Although urban slums are in proximity to many health facilities, a substantial proportion of preterm births contribute to neonatal deaths. So, pregnant women should be targeted, to ensure timely care during pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum periods to improve the survival of new-borns in general and preterm birth in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Inherited disorder of Hemoglobin is -widely distributedthroughout the-world. Amongthem, Thalassaemia is a common disorder with widespread geographical distribution. Objectives: The objective of the study -was to determine the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of thalassaemia prevention among parents of children -with Thalassaemia. Methodology: This -was a descriptive cross sectional study. This study was conducted in inpatient and outpatient department of paediatrics, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital over a period of July 2020 to June 2021. 45parents of children with thalassaemia were purposively selected as study subjects. Informed-written consentwere obtained from the parents before enrollment in the study. Data were collected on variables of interest. All the findings -were recorded and analyzed Statistical analysis were done using statistical package for social science (SPSS) software version 21. Result: Total 45 parents of children -with thalassaemia were enrolled in the study. Among the informants, 73.3% (total a. Dr. Fardoushi Begum, Medical Officer, Outpatient Department (Paediatrics), Rajshahi Medical College & Hospital, Rajshahi. b. Dr. Mst. Farhana Shirin, Assistant Registrar, Department of Paediatrics, Rajshahi Medical College & Hospital, Rajshahi. c. Dr. Md. Abu Sayed, Registrar, Department of Surgery, Rajshahi Medical College & Hospital, Rajshahi. d. Dr. Laila Shamima Sharmin, Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Rajshahi Medical College & Hospital, Rajshahi. e. Prof. Md. Belal Uddin, Professor and Head, Department of Paediatrics, Rajshahi Medical College & Hospital, Rajshahi. Address of Correspondence: Dr.Fardoushi Begum, 362/1; Terokhadia Poschimpara, post: Cantonment, post code 6202, Rajshahi Phone: 01757826094, Email: drfardoushi@gmail.com Received: 7 Oct., 2022 Accepted: 18 Sept., 2023 33) -were mother and26.6% (total 12) werefather. 77.7% (total 35) children were from rural areas and 22.22% (total 10) -were from urban areas. AU the study population received knowledge about thalassaemia from the physicians. Knowledge of the parents about the disease, its treatment options and methods of its prevention -were assessed by likert scale questionnaire. 22.22% parents had adequate knowledge, 64.44% had average knowledge and 13.33% had inadequate knowledge about the disease. 60% parents had adequate knowledge 31.11% had average knowledge and 8.89% had inadequate knowledge about prevention of thalassaemia. Attitude of'all the parents (100%) -were positive. Conclusion: Most of the parents have adequate knowledge and positive attitude for thalassaemia prevention and they can serve as resource for spreading awareness about thalassaemia in community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although the 24-hours urinary copper excretion is useful for the diagnosis of Wilson disease (WD), there are practical difficulties in the accurate and timed collection of urine samples. The purpose of this study was to verify if the spot morning urinary Copper/Zinc (Cu/Zn) ratio could be used as a replacement parameter of 24-hours urinary copper excretion in the diagnosis of WD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh, from June 2019 to May 2021 on 67 children over three years of age who presented with liver disease. Twenty-seven children who fulfilled the inclusion criteria for WD were categorized into the test group, and the remaining forty children were considered to have non-Wilsonian liver disease and were categorized into the control group. Along with other laboratory investigations, spot morning urinary samples were estimated for the urinary Cu/Zn ratio in all patients and were compared to the 24-hour urinary copper excretion. The diagnostic value of the Cu/Zn ratio was then analyzed. Results: Correlation of spot morning urinary Cu/Zn ratio with 24-hours urinary copper excretion was found to be significant (r=0.60). The area under ROC curve with 95% confidence interval of morning urinary Cu/Zn ratio measured using 24-hours urine sample was 0.84 (standard error, 0.05; p<0.001). Conclusion: Spot morning urinary Cu/Zn ratio seems to be a promising parameter for the replacement of 24-hours urinary copper excretion in the diagnosis of WD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic contamination is a global health concern, primarily through contaminated groundwater and its entry into the food chain. The association between arsenic exposure and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is particularly alarming due to CVDs being the leading cause of death worldwide. Arsenic exposure has also been linked to changes in telomere length, mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), and deletion, further increasing the risk of CVDs. We aimed to determine whether arsenic exposure alters telomere length and mtDNAcn and deletion in a total of 50 CVD patients who underwent open heart surgery hailed from known arsenic-affected and unaffected areas in Bangladesh. Amount of arsenic was determined from the collected nails and cardiac tissues. Relative telomere length and mtDNAcn and deletion were quantified by qRT-PCR. The patients from arsenic-contaminated areas had higher average arsenic deposits in their fingers and toenails (P < 0.05) and higher cardiac tissue injury scores (P < 0.05). Moreover, approximately 1.5-fold shorter telomere length (P < 0.05, r = − 0.775), 1.2-fold decreased mtDNAcn (P < 0.05, r = − 0.797), and an 81-fold higher amount of mitochondrial DNA deletion (P < 0.05, r = 0.784) were observed in the patients who had higher arsenic deposition in their nails. Higher levels of arsenic exposure were found to be linked to shorter telomere length, decreased mtDNAcn, and increased mitochondrial DNA deletion in the patients from As-affected areas. It can also be anticipated that the correlation of arsenic exposure with telomere length, mtDNAcn, and deletion can be used as biomarkers for early diagnosis of arsenic-induced cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed whether personal exposure to household air pollution [PM2.5 and black carbon (BC)] is associated with lung functions (FEV1, FVC, and their ratio) in non-smoking adults in rural Bangladesh. We measured personal exposure to PM2.5 using gravimetric analysis of PM2.5 mass and BC by reflectance measurement between April 2016 and June 2019. The average 24-hour PM2.5 and BC concentration was 141.0μgm−3 and 13.8μgm−3 for females, and 91.7 μgm−3 and 10.1 μgm−3 for males, respectively. A 1 μgm−3 increase in PM2.5 resulted in a 0.02 ml reduction in FEV1, 0.43 ml reduction in FVC, and 0.004% reduction in FEV1/FVC. We also found a similar inverse relationship between BC and lung functions (9.6 ml decrease in FEV1 and 18.5 ml decrease in FVC per 1μgm−3 increase in BC). A higher proportion of non-smoking biomass fuel users (50.1% of the females and 46.7% of the males) had restrictive patterns of lung function abnormalities, which need further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Bangladesh stands as a prominent global consumer of tobacco, with alarming consequences on public health. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey reported that tobacco consumption claimed over 126 000 lives in 2018, contributing to 13.5% of all deaths in the country. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of higher tax rates and tobacco use regulation as control mechanisms in mitigating tobacco consumption and health care cost burden, with a particular emphasis on its implications for public health. Methods: This study is based on the annual time series data over the period 2000-2020. The study employs the ordinary least square method to analyze the quantitative confirming the stationarity of data at level. This research uses different models to investigate individual effects and combined effects on both tobacco consumption and tobacco health care cost burden. Results: The study finds a negative relationship between tobacco tax rate and tobacco consumption. More specifically, the higher tax rate of tobacco (low (β = - 0.3495), medium (β = - 0.2319), high (β = - 0.9033), premium (β = - 0.7322), filtered (β = - 0.2114), and non-filtered (β = - 0.3452) categories) is significant to reduce tobacco use at 1% level of significance. The study finds similar results when it applied tobacco retail price instead of tobacco tax rate as the independent variable. Finally, the study investigates the impact on health care cost through tobacco consumption, tobacco control law, growth rate, export-import, and tobacco production. The results indicate that tobacco consumption, export-import, and tobacco production increases health care cost burden while tobacco use regulatory decreases it. By reducing tobacco consumption, higher taxes and tobacco use regulation contribute to alleviating the burden on the healthcare system, promoting healthier lifestyles, and aligning with global health objectives. Conclusions: Higher tax rate on tobacco products is necessary to increase the retail price so that tobacco users cannot consume tobacco. Specific tax and uniform tax base are needed so that tobacco users cannot switch to lower priced brands. Tobacco control laws need to revised and proper implementation should be ensured as well, to achieve the goal of tobacco free Bangladesh by 2040. Tobacco-related diseases, responsible for a significant proportion of deaths in the country, could witness a considerable decline with the successful implementation of higher tax rates and tobacco use regulation. This study provides insights that not only contribute to the economic discourse but also accentuate the broader public health benefits arising from effective tobacco taxation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted maternal and newborn health services in Bangladesh, exacerbating the large gaps in service utilization that existed prior to the pandemic. As part of its response, Bangladesh initiated remote antenatal and postnatal care telemedicine services led by midwives in 36 sub-district hospitals across five of Bangladesh's 64 districts. Gender-based violence screening and referral were integrated into the service to address a reported rise in violence following the country's pandemic lockdown. Methods: Mixed-methods implementation research was used to develop an intrinsic case study describing the design and implementation of the telemedicine program. Qualitative analysis comprised document review, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Quantitative analysis employed an interrupted time series analysis with segmented multi-variate regression to compare maternity care service use trends before and after implementation. Poisson regression analysis was used to examine the trend in number of gender-based violence remote screenings, sessions held, and cases identified. Results: A statistically significant change in trend for onsite antenatal and postpartum care as well as women seeking care at the hospital as a result of postpartum hemorrhage arising in the community was observed following the introduction of telemedicine. Facility births and cases of eclampsia appropriately identified and managed also had significant increases. In addition, over 6917 women were screened for GBV, 223 received counseling and 34 referrals were made, showing a statistically significant increase in frequency over time following the implementation of the telemedicine program. Challenges included that not all midwives adopted GBV screening, some women were reluctant to discuss GBV, there was an unanticipated need to introduce a patient visit scheduling system in all intervention hospitals, and many women were not reachable by phone due to lack of access or network coverage. Conclusions: Maternal health and gender-based violence telemedicine led by midwives was an effective, low-cost intervention in Bangladesh for addressing pandemic and pre-pandemic gaps in service use. Other low and middle-income countries planning to implement remote maternal health interventions via midwives should consider whether a patient visit scheduling system needs to be introduced, as well as limitations around mobile phone access and connectivity. Future research should include care quality oversight and improvement, and a more well-informed strategy for facilitating effective GBV screening. Plain language summary: To support the continuation of sexual and reproductive health services following pandemic lockdowns, Bangladesh introduced a midwife-led telemedicine program. Through the program, midwives who were already employed within the health system delivered remote antenatal and postnatal care, including gender-based violence screening and referral. The program operated in 36 sub-district hospitals across five of Bangladesh's 64 districts. Intrinsic implementation research was used to develop a case study describing the design and implementation of the telemedicine program. Qualitative and quantitative methods comprised document review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and service use trends. Analysis of the data identified a statistically significant trend increase for most maternity care services. Although they did increase significantly over time, referrals for GBV were less than expected, which may have been related to some midwives not screening for GBV, and/or that many women were reluctant to discuss GBV. In addition, there was an unanticipated need to introduce a patient visit scheduling system in all intervention hospitals, and many women were not reachable by phone due to lack of access or network coverage. In spite of this, 6197 women were screened for GBV. Of those, 223 received counseling and 34 received referrals. Overall, telemedicine led by midwives was an effective, low-cost intervention for maternal health, and a step toward stronger GBV response in Bangladesh. Other low and middle-income countries planning to implement remote maternal health interventions via midwives should consider what is needed to facilitate comfort for both providers and women as related to GBV screening, as well as practical issues regarding introducing scheduling systems and limitations of mobile phone access and connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endophytic fungi have recently been recognized as an impressive source of natural biomolecules. The primary objective of the research was to isolate fungal endophytes from Thysanolaena maxima Roxb., Dracaena spicata Roxb. and Aglaonema hookerianum Schott. of Bangladesh and assess their pharmacological potentialities focusing on antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties. Methods: The fungal isolates were identified up to the genus level by analyzing their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. Ethyl acetate extracts of all the fungal isolates were screened for different bioactivities, including antimicrobial (disc diffusion method), antioxidant (DPPH scavenging assay), and cytotoxic (brine shrimp lethality bioassay) activities. Results: Among the thirteen isolates, Fusarium sp. was the most recognized genus, while the others belonged to Colletotrichum sp. and Pestalotia sp. Comparing the bioactivity of all the extracts, Fusarium sp. was shown to be the most effective endophyte, followed by Colletotrichum sp. and Pestalotia sp. In the antimicrobial study, two isolates of Fusarium sp. (internal strain nos. DSLE-1 and AHPE-4) showed inhibitory activity against all the tested bacteria and the highest zone of inhibition (15.5 ± 0.4 mm) was exerted by AHPE-4 against Bacillus subtillis. All the fungal isolates produced mild to moderate free radical scavenging activity, where the highest antioxidant activity was revealed by one isolate of Fusarium sp. (internal strain no. AHPE-3) with an IC50 value of 84.94 ± 0.41 µg/mL. The majority of Fusarium sp. isolates exhibited notable cytotoxic activity, where AHPE-4 exhibited the highest cytotoxicity, having the LC50 value of 14.33 ± 4.5 µg/mL. Conclusion: The findings of the study endorsed that the fungal endophytes isolated from T. maxima, D. spicata, and A. hookerianum hold potential as valuable origins of bioactive substances. Nevertheless, more comprehensive research is warranted, which could develop novel natural compounds from these endophytes to treat various infectious and cancerous diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated adoption and determinants of adopting the bed planter developed by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and the impacts on productivity and farm income in the Rajshahi and Faridpur districts of Bangladesh. Primary data were collected during 2019 from 41 adopters and 80 non-adopters using a multi-stage random sampling technique. On average, the adoption rate of the BARI bed planter was 15%. Socio-economic characteristics such as farm size, farming experience, training, and extension contacts significantly differed between adopters and non-adopters. A probit model showed that farmer experience, extension contacts, and farmers' club membership were key variables influencing the likelihood of BARI bed planter adoption. Policy recommendations based on these results include modifying current extension approaches and increasing investment in farm machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: There is a dearth of information about binge eating disorder (BED) among Bangladeshi university students, who may be more susceptible to BED due to the rise in unhealthy lifestyles and food habits. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of BED symptoms among Bangladeshi university students. Methods: Students (N = 525) from three public universities in Bangladesh participated in this cross‐sectional study between November 2022 and March 2023. Face‐to‐face interviews were conducted using a structured paper‐based questionnaire that included two validated survey tools; the binge eating disorder screener and the patient health questionnaire‐9. To identify the factors associated with BED symptoms, multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted, with sociodemographic and behavioral information (e.g., age, sex, smoking status, etc.) considered as covariates. Results: The prevalence of BED symptoms among participants (mean age 21.28 years, 50.3% male and 49.7% female) was 20.6%. Male students had a 2.28 times higher likelihood of having BED symptoms compared to female counterparts (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.28; 95% CI: 1.33−3.89). Older students (AOR = 3.56, 95% CI: 1.80−7.05), students who were overweight or obese (AOR = 3.32, 95% CI: 1.87−5.89), and students reporting higher depressive symptoms (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.66−4.35) were at greater risk for developing BED compared to their respective counterparts. Conclusions: This study provides new insights into the prevalence of BED symptoms and its contributing factors among Bangladeshi students. Approximately 1‐in‐5 university students reported having BED symptoms. University students who are older, overweight, or obese, and who report depressive symptoms may be at greatest risk. Future longitudinal studies are needed to determine the causal factors underlying BED. Findings from this study can assist policymakers and public health professionals in developing effective and targeted strategies to mitigate the risks associated with BED among Bangladeshi university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plant growth-promoting endophytic fungi (PGPEF) that are associated with halophytes have the potential to boost crop salinity tolerance and productivity. This in turn has the potential of enabling and improving cultivation practices in coastal lands affected by salt stress. Methods: Endophytic fungi from the wild halophytic rice Oryza coarctata were isolated, characterized, identified, and studied for their effects on all developing stages of rice plant growth and their yields both with and without salt stress. Key results: In this study, three different fungal endophytes were isolated from the halophytic wild rice Oryza coarctata. Two isolates were identified as Talaromyces adpressus (OPCRE2) and Talaromyces argentinensis (OPCRh1) by ITS region sequencing. The remaining isolate NPCRE2 was confirmed as a novel strain named Aspergillus welwitschiae Ocstreb1 (AwOcstreb1) by whole genome sequencing. These endophytes showed various plant growth-promoting (PGP) abilities in vitro (e.g., IAA, ACC-deaminase and siderophore production, phosphate, and zinc solubilization as well as nitrogen fixation), where AwOcstreb1 was significantly more efficient compared to the other two isolates at high salinity (900 mm). Independent application of these fungi in commercial rice (Oryza sativa) showed significant elevation in plant growth, especially in the case of the AwOcstreb1 inoculants, which had enhanced metabolite and chlorophyll content at the seedling stage in both no-salt control and 100-mm salt-stressed plants. At the same time, AwOcstreb1-treated plants had a significantly lower level of H2O2, electrolyte leakage, and Na+/K+ ratio under saline conditions. Higher expression (1.6 folds) of the SOS1 (salt overly sensitive 1) gene was also observed in these plants under salinity stress. This strain also improved percent fertility, tillering, panicle number, and filled grain number in both no-salt control and 45-mm salt-stressed inoculated plants at the reproductive stage. Consequently, the differences in their yield was 125.16% and 203.96% (p < 0.05) in colonized plants in normal and saline conditions, respectively, compared to uninoculated controls. Conclusions: We propose that AwOcstreb1 is a potential candidate for an eco-friendly biofertilizer formula to improve the cultivation and yield of rice or any other crop in the highly saline coastal regions of Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on library and information services (LIS) and how library professionals overcome the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic in the current reality. Design/methodology/approach: This study used quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Bangladesh's LIS professionals. A structured online questionnaire was designed for the purpose of a quantitative survey. The respondents of this study were LIS professionals in all categories of libraries (e.g. academic libraries, public libraries, special libraries and national library) in Bangladesh. A total of 106 responses from LIS professionals in Bangladesh were received. This study analyzed qualitative data using Braun and Clark's technique for thematic coding. Researchers interviewed librarians in two phases (during the COVID-19 pandemic and after COVID-19) about how libraries cope up with the COVID crisis. The descriptive findings were examined using diverse descriptive statistics (i.e. frequency numbers and percentages), and for examining the significant differences among demographics' information regarding challenges faced by LIS professionals, Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests were conducted. The qualitative responses were carefully analyzed for familiarizing, coding and theme generation. Findings: The result showed that most LIS professionals (i.e. 46.2% and 43.4%) had faced difficulties in accessing e-resources from home and had failed to maintain balance between work and personal life and to offer remote library services. The LIS professionals mostly used Facebook Messenger and Zoom to communicate with their colleagues and users. Furthermore, many LIS professionals (50.0%) secured their health and safety, adopted hygienic procedures at their workstations and provided virtual reference services. The qualitative findings show that though some libraries have faced challenges in providing online sources and services due to the absence of authority interest, budget scarcity and inadequate information and communication technology infrastructure, some libraries took the initiative to establish library institutional repository and make it available for users from home. Research limitations/implications: The present study only concentrated on the staff and their actions during and after the pandemic, which was mentioned as a limitation. It would be more effective if the study also considered the user's viewpoint. The researchers hope that this study will help LIS professionals to support and provide digital and innovative service initiatives in their organization. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first of its kind study in Bangladesh where the staff of all types of libraries expressed their views on the problems they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the steps they took recently to overcome them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an infectious disease of cattle, mainly caused by Mycobacterium bovis. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) assay and single-intradermal comparative tuberculin test (SICTT) in detecting bTB. Materials and Methods: In an earlier study, 150 positive, 83 inconclusive, and 480 negative animals from 24 cattle herds were screened using SICTT. From these groups, 125 positive, 17 inconclusive, and six negative animals were subsequently verified using the IFN-γ assay. Single-intradermal comparative tuberculin test outcomes were interpreted according to standard guidelines, whereas blood samples were collected and stimulated with purified protein derivatives. Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure secreted IFN-γ. Concordant and Bayesian latent class analyses were performed to evaluate test performance. Results: Results from the IFN-γ assay revealed that 83.2%, 64.7%, and 16.67% of the animals were positive in the SICTT-positive, inconclusive, and negative animal categories, respectively. Sensitivity (SE) and specificity (SP) of SICTT were 83.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 77.4-90.1) and 95.7% (95% CI: 86.9-99.7), respectively. Sensitivity and SP for the IFN-γ assay were 78.9% (95% CI: 71.9-85.4) and 83.9% (65.9-95.9), respectively. The use of both tests in parallel increases the SE of bTB detection (~94%), compared with SICTT alone. Conclusion: Use of the IFN-γ assay with SICTT in parallel, predominantly on cattle demonstrating an inconclusive SICTT outcome, boosts bTB detection rate in low resource settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out to assess the physicochemical and storage stability of seven different retail cake samples available in Tangail city, Bangladesh. The proximate composition of the collected cake samples was found significantly different (p˂0.05) and was found within the acceptable range of the Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI) standards though most of the cake samples (except S7) had moisture content near to the BSTI borderline range for moisture (~25%). Volume and specific volume of the cake samples ranged from 12.00 to 29.99 cm³ and 1.64 to 2.93 ml/g respectively. The color measurement of all samples were analyzed for L*, a* and b* values, hue angle, saturation index and whiteness index. Textural properties of the cake samples were analyzed for 7 days of storage where hardness of all samples were increased significantly (p˂0.05) and springiness was decreased with storage time. Regarding the storage stability most the cake samples (except S7 containing lowest moisture) showed higher total viable count (TVC) (1×104 cfu/g to 2.71×106 cfu/g) and total fungal count (TFC) (0 cfu/g to 1.4×105 cfu/g) than the WHO acceptable range for consumption just after the 2nd day and 6th day of storage respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluctuations in seasonal features of physicochemical factors in the coastal zone are expressively related to the development of aquaculture. The research examined some common physicochemical characteristics of water such as temperature, salinity, light penetration, pH, biological oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), and nutrients like nitrite and phosphate for the Chattogram coast of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh, for a period about one year (December 2020 to November 2021) during the pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons. The analyzed physic-chemical parameters' spatio-temporal variability was discovered to be as follows: average temperature 28.20±2.28℃, light penetration 9.95±1.75 cm, pH 7.38±0.17, salinity 20.11±1.44 ppt, DO 7.41±0.91 mg/l, BOD5 8.28±1.15 mg/l, TSS 2.61±0.43 g/l, and TDS 21.99±2.06 g/l. The concentration of nutrients indicates significant variations, and their levels in the water increased during the monsoon period. Total nitrate-nitrogen ranged between 0.867 μg/l and 1.472 μg/l and total phosphate-phosphorus ranged between 0.221 μg/l and 0.844 μg/l. Shipbreaking activities near the study area possess adverse impacts on native geomorphology, freshwater inputs, rainfall, and the aquatic ecosystem as well. This research proposes the value of regular supervision to assess the status of water quality and the next prospect of aquaculture in the Chattogram coastal area. Seasonally, without DO, all values showed a significant difference, whereas p<0.05. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital hypothyroidism is one of the most common preventable endocrine disorders associated with thyroid dysgenesis or dyshormonogenesis. Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) gene defect is mainly responsible for dyshormonogenesis; a defect in the thyroid hormone biosynthesis pathway. In Bangladesh, there is limited data regarding the genetic etiology of Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH). The present study investigates the impact of the detected mutations (p.Ala373Ser, and p.Thr725Pro) on the TPO dimer protein. We have performed sequential molecular docking of H2O2 and I- ligands with both monomers of TPO dimer to understand the iodination process in thyroid hormone biosynthesis. Understanding homodimer interactions at the atomic level is a critical challenge to elucidate their biological mechanisms of action. The docking results reveal that mutations in the dimer severely disrupt its catalytic interaction with essential ligands. Molecular dynamics simulation has been performed to validate the docking results, thus realizing the consequence of the mutation in the biological system's mimic. The dynamics results expose that mutations destabilize the TPO dimer protein. Finally, principal component analysis exhibits structural and energy profile discrepancies in wild-type and mutant dimers. The findings of this study highlight that the mutations in TPO protein can critically affect the dimer structure and loss of enzymatic activity is persistent. Other factors also might influence the hormone synthesis pathway, which is under investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing concern, affecting about 45 million of the Bangladeshi population. There is a paucity of research on the economic burden of NAFLD. The study aims to estimate the cost of illness of NAFLD in Bangladesh. Methods: In this prospective, cross‐sectional study, a total of 250 patients of NAFLD, non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and NASH cirrhosis were included from public and private hospitals. Costs of hospitalization, physician fees, investigation costs, expenditures on medical procedures, drugs; and nonmedical costs such as transport expenses and other informal payments (tips) were estimated. Results: The overall cost per patient per evaluation was (16.90–46 942.00) USD. The cost in public and private hospitals was 384.76 and 1146.93 USD, respectively. The cost per patient of NAFLD was 157.91 (16.90–955.08) USD, and for NASH cirrhosis was 1783.80 (422.48–46 942) USD. The cost of illness increased to USD 281.18 for diabetics and 254.52 USD for hypertensive. If all the NAFLD patients are evaluated once in healthcare settings, the projected cost will be 7.11 billion USD. In NAFLD, cost for investigations, medicines, transportation, and consultation of physicians was 49.08%, 32.41%, 11.11%, and 6.67%, respectively. Conclusions: NAFLD is causing a huge economic burden to the healthcare system. The cost of illness is increased with NASH cirrhosis. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the economic burden of NAFLD in Bangladesh and emphasizes the several ways of intervention to reduce the cost by preventive measures and accessible healthcare for affected individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an unfavourable environment, best management practices can greatly reduce the yield gap of many crops; however, the performance of best management practices on sunflower yield and economics in salt-affected low-intensive cropping areas of Bangladesh has yet to be determined. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivation in the coastal areas of Bangladesh faces significant challenges, such as increasing soil salinity in the sowing period, lack of sweet water for irrigation, an insufficient supply of quality seeds of high-yielding varieties, and inadequate farmers' knowledge of best production practices. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate management approaches and varieties to enhance the productivity of sunflowers in salt-affected regions. The study was conducted in two consecutive Rabi seasons (2014-2015 and 2015-2016) in Benarpota, Satkhira, Bangladesh. The trial included two popular sunflower varieties (BARI sunflower 2, and SVS 00901) and three management practices (poor, moderate, and best management). Poor and moderate management practices were identified based on the farmers' survey in this area. The best management practices ware decided based on the BARI recommended practices. In both years, the seed yield of BARI sunflower 2 had 10-15% higher than the seed yield of the variety SVS 00901. The best management practices had 25-30% and 35-42% higher seed yields of sunflower than the moderate and poor management, respectively. The best management practices had always higher gross returns, and across varieties, it was 25-30% and 35-40% higher than the moderate and poor management practices resulting in 30-32% and 30-36% higher net return, respectively. Best management practices greatly reduced the salinity level of soil during the cropping period, hence, the salinity stress was comparatively lower than the poor and moderate management. Best management practices with quality sunflower varieties can boost the productivity and profitability of sunflower in coastal Bangladesh and can increase households' income by increasing the cropping intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disorder of thyroid gland development or thyroid dysgenesis accounts for 80–85% of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) cases. Mutations in the TSHR gene are mostly associated with thyroid dysgenesis, and prevent or disrupt normal development of the gland. There is limited data available on the genetic spectrum of congenital hypothyroid children in Bangladesh. Thus, an understanding of the molecular aetiology of thyroid dysgenesis is a prerequisite. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of mutations in the TSHR gene on the small molecule thyrogenic drug-binding site of the protein. We identified two nonsynonymous mutations (p.Ser508Leu, p.Glu727Asp) in the exon 10 of the TSHR gene in 21 patients with dysgenesis by sequencing-based analysis. Later, the TSHR368-764 protein was modeled by the I-TASSER server for wild-type and mutant structures. The model proteins were targeted by thyrogenic drugs, MS437 and MS438 to perceive the effect of mutations. The damaging effect in drug-protein complexes of mutants was explored by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. The binding affinity of wild-type protein was much higher than the mutant cases for both of the drug ligands (MS437 and MS438). Molecular dynamics simulates the dynamic behavior of wild-type and mutant complexes. MS437-TSHR368-764MT2 and MS438-TSHR368-764MT1 showed stable conformations in biological environments. Finally, Principle Component Analysis revealed structural and energy profile discrepancies. TSHR368-764MT1 exhibited much more variations than TSHR368-764WT and TSHR368-764MT2, emphasizing a more damaging pattern in TSHR368-764MT1. This genetic study might be helpful to explore the mutational impact on drug binding sites of TSHR protein which is important for future drug design and selection for the treatment of congenital hypothyroid children with dysgenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Depression is a common mental health disorder and one of the major causes of disability. This study aimed at investigating the relationship of acne severity and acne-related quality of life with depressive symptoms, and the mediating effect of acne-related quality of life in a relationship between acne severity and depressive symptoms. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from acne patients attending a tertiary-level hospital, using a questionnaire that comprised three validated instruments - Investigator's Global Assessment (a single item) scale, Cardiff Acne Disability Index, and Beck Depression Inventory for measuring acne severity, acne-related quality of life, and depressive symptoms, respectively. Logistic regression and linear regression were used to examine the association between acne severity and depressive symptoms and a correlation between the acne-related quality of life and depressive symptoms, respectively. A mediation analysis was also performed to see the mediation effects of acne-related quality of life in a relationship between acne severity and depressive symptoms. Results: A total of 185 acne patients (155 females, 83.8%) with a mean age was 22.55 ± 8.67 years were included in the study. Adolescents and young adults with severe and moderate acne had 6.14-and 2.28 times higher odds of depression compared to their peers with mild acne, respectively. Patients with low levels of acne-related quality of life had a higher level of depressive symptoms (ß = 0.42, p < 0.001). The total effect (direct + indirect) was also significant (ß = 0.27, 95% CI: 1.29-4.09), implying the effect of acne severity on depression. Conclusion: The present study suggests that acne severity and acne-related quality of life were associated with depressive symptoms among patients with acne vulgaris. The study also indicates that the relationship between acne severity and depressive symptoms might occur through a chain-mediating effect of acne disability in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, is an economically important disease of potato that causes significant yield losses, with severe outbreaks regularly occurring in Bangladesh. The objective of this study was to do a large‐scale survey of potato fields in the main potato‐growing divisions of Bangladesh examining genotypic diversity of P. infestans populations. A total of 160 samples were collected in 2018 from both potato (n = 140) and tomato (n = 20). Isolates were mainly collected on FTA cards (n = 143), but 17 were also collected and isolated into pure culture. Microsatellite analysis revealed high levels of subclonal diversity in P. infestans populations with 116 multilocus genotypes recorded from 160 samples. Comparisons with standards of European and US isolates showed that 74% of samples could be categorized as genotype EU_13_A2, 7% clustered near EU_6_A1 and EU_1_A1, and 19% were unique. Discriminant analysis of principal components showed that the P. infestans population clustered into four distinct groups: a main group that contained most of the samples from potato, two distinct tomato groups and one group of samples originating from the division of Mymensingh. Of 17 isolates from cultures, 16 were EU_13_A2 and one was EU_6_A1; 15 were insensitive to metalaxyl‐M. Out of 160 samples, 158 were categorized as mating type A2 and two as mating type A1. These results indicate that Bangladesh populations of P. infestans from potato, like those from neighbouring countries, are dominated by genotype EU_13_A2. However, populations from tomato were distinct and appear to be specific to tomato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the composition, health risk, and sources of trace elements of road dust collected from three major metropolitan cities in Bangladesh. Pellets were prepared from the collected road dust samples and analyzed by the Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence. The mean concentration of trace elements showed the order of K > Fe > Ca > Ti > Mn > Zr > Sr > Zn > Rb > Cr > Rb > Cu > Pb > Y > As > Ni. This research also presented the spatial distribution of the metals among three cities. The contamination factor and degree of contamination were assessed. The highest contamination factor was observed near BSRM steel manufacturing company, Chattogram could be due to the increased traffic in front of this industry. All the sampling sites showed pollution load index lower than one indicating unpolluted. However, K, Zn, and Zr showed a pollution load index values more significant than one. The result indicated that the ecological risk factor (Er) values fluctuated among metals tested across metropolitan cities. Negative geo-accumulation indexes were found for all the elements except K and Zn, suggesting moderate pollution. The Hazard Quotient values of all metals are < 1 for both adults and children. The cancer risks associated with Cr, Co, Ni, As, and Pb have been estimated individually for children and adults. The cancer risks associated with trace elements are below the European Union's acceptable limit, indicating that these five elements are not carcinogenic. The findings of principal component analysis followed by multiple linear regression showed that the sources of heavy metals were mixed natural (34.25%) and anthropogenic sources, vehicle emissions (38.92%), natural sources (5.80%), industrial sources (11.02%) and agricultural sources (10.02%). Four factors were concluded as sources of heavy metals confirmed by applying the positive matrix factorization model such as anthropogenic, industrial activities, natural process and agricultural activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]