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Aminur Rahman,1,2 Sadika Akhter,1 Monjura Khatun Nisha,3 Syed Shariful Islam,4 Fatema Ashraf,5 Monjur Rahman,1 Nazneen Begum,6 Mahbub Elahi Chowdhury,1 Anne Austin,7 Iqbal Anwar1 1International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh; 2College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; 3Sydney School of Public Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; 4Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, 5Department of Gyenaecology and Obstetric, Shaheed Suhrawardi Medical College and Hospital, 6Department of Gyenaecology and Obstetric, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh; 7JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., Boston, MA, USA Purpose: Of the 99% maternal deaths that take place in developing countries, one-fourth is due to postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). PPH accounts for one-third of all blood transfusions in Bangladesh where the transfusion process is lengthy as most facilities do not have in-house blood bank facilities. In this context, the location where blood is obtained and the processes of obtaining blood products are not standardized, leading to preventable delays in collecting blood, when it is needed. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an online Blood Information Management Application (BIMA) system for reducing lag time in the blood transfusion process.Patients and methods: The study was conducted in a public medical college hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and in two proximate, licensed blood banks between January 2014 and March 2015, using a before after design. A total of 310 women (143 before and 177 after), who needed emergency blood transfusion during their perinatal period, as determined by a medical professional, were included in the study. A median linear regression model was employed to assess the adjusted effect of BIMA on transfusion time.Results: After the introduction of BIMA, the median duration between the identified need for blood and blood transfusion reduced from 152 to 122 minutes (P

An experiment was conducted at the Agronomy research field of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur and at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Burirhat, Rangpur during Rabi season of 2013-14 and 2014-15 to find out optimum sowing date of sweet corn in potato + sweet corn intercropping system for getting maximum yield and economic return. Six treatments viz., simultaneous sowing of potato and sweet corn, sweet corn sown at 10 days after potato planting (DAPP), sweet corn sown 20 DAPP, sweet corn sown 30 DAPP, sole potato and sole sweet corn were tested in this study. Sweet corn sown at 20 DPP produced the highest potato equivalent yield (Joydebpur: 41.41 t ha-1 in 2013-14 and 42.22 t ha-1 in 2014-15 and Rangpur: 42.29 t ha-1 in 2013-14 and 42.52 t ha-1 in 2014-15). The highest gross return at Joydebpur Tk. 431050 ha-1 and at Rangpur Tk. 436248 ha-1, gross margin at Joydebpur Tk. 286805 ha-1 and at Rangpur Tk. 271985 ha-1 and benefit cost ratio at Joydebpur 2.99 and at Rangpur 3.01 were observed over the years in the same treatment. In this treatment, tuber yield was reduced 3.4-4.1% in Joydebpur and 7.8-8.4% in Rangpur due to intercropping. The result indicated that sweet corn sown 20 DAPP might be suitable intercrop combination for getting maximum yield and economic return.

Objective To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for reproductive tract infections among men and women in a rural community in Bangladesh. Methods In the Matlab area a systematic sample of married non-pregnant women aged 15-50 years was drawn from a comprehensive household registration system for married women. A systematic sample of married and unmarried men in the same age group was drawn from a census-derived demographic surveillance list. Private interviews were conducted with 804 women in a clinic, and cervical, vaginal, urinary and serological samples were collected. Urine and blood specimens were obtained from 969 men who were interviewed at home. Findings The prevalence of bacterial and viral reproductive tract infections was low to moderate. For example, fewer than 1% of the women had a cervical infection. No cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection were found. However, among men there was a high level of reported risk behaviour and a low level of protection against infection. Conclusion A low prevalence of reproductive tract infections, coupled with a high level of reported risk behaviour, indicated a need for primary programmes that would prevent an increase in the incidence of reproductive tract infections, sexually transmitted infections and HIV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is gaining importance due to its potential to enhance soil health, crop yield, and quality. It may also promote more sustainable farming methods. This study evaluated the combined effects of biochar, vermicompost, and inorganic fertilizers on soil characteristics, growth, and yield in wheat. Ten different treatments were applied to wheat (cultivar BARI Gom-33). The tallest plants, highest total dry weight, and largest leaf area index were observed in plots where chemical fertilizers, rice husk biochar, poultry manure, and vermicompost were applied together. At harvest, the treatment containing 1/4 recommended fertilizer dose (RFD) + 1/4 poultry manure biochar + 1/4 rice husk biochar + 1/4 vermicompost produced the best yield and yield-contributing factors. The combination of biochar, vermicompost, and inorganic fertilizers increased grain production by 43.23%-79.48% compared with the control. These treatments also improved soil health by increasing available phosphorus, organic matter, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and organic carbon. In conclusion, the combined application of 1/4 RFD, 1/4 poultry manure biochar, 1/4 rice husk biochar, and 1/4 vermicompost can replace the sole use of chemical fertilizers and serve as a key component for sustainable crop production., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ahmed Khairul Hasan et al.)

Escape of genetically distinct farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) raises concerns about their potential interactions with wild populations and the disruption of local adaptation through genetic admixture. It is often unknown whether genetic origin or common domestication effects will have a greater influence on consequences posed by escaped farmed fish. Previous work showed that domestication could have prevalent effects on the behaviour and growth of farmed salmon, independent of their genetic origin. Yet, less is known whether this extends more broadly to gene expression, particularly at critical early life stages. Thus, we compared the expression of 24 transcripts related to the immune response, structural maintenance, stress response and iron metabolism among distinct farmed (North American [NA] and European [EO]), wild (Newfoundland) and F 1 hybrid salmon at hatching under controlled conditions using qPCR analyses. A slightly higher number of transcripts were differentially expressed between the wild population relative to EO (i.e. atf3a, atf3b, bnip3, trim37a, ftm, hp and gapdh) than NA-farmed salmon (i.e. epdl2, hba1a, hba1b, hbb4 and ftm). The most differences existed between the two farmed strains themselves (11 of 24 transcripts), with the fewest differentially expressed transcripts found between the F 1 hybrids and the domesticated/wild maternal strains (4 of 24 transcripts). Interestingly, despite similarities in the overall extent of gene expression differences among cross types, the expression patterns differed relative to a past study that compared fry from the same cross types at the end of yolk sac absorption. Overall, our findings suggest that interbreeding of escaped farmed salmon with wild Newfoundland populations would alter transcript expression levels and that developmental stage influences these changes., (© 2024 The Author(s). Molecular Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

We aimed to estimate the overall apparent prevalence, true prevalence, and the spatial, temporal, and test-specific burden of bovine tuberculosis in Bangladesh. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and BanglaJOL were searched for bovine tuberculosis publications in Bangladesh from 1 January 1970 to 23 June 2023. Of 142 articles screened, systematic review and meta-analysis were performed on 22 (15.5%) articles. The apparent estimated bovine tuberculosis prevalence was 7%. The apparent Bayesian pooled mean bovine tuberculosis prevalences based on caudal fold test and single intradermal comparative tuberculin test were 7.83% and 9.89%, respectively, and the true pooled mean prevalences were 10.39% and 10.48%, respectively. Targeted interventions are recommended for districts with higher prevalence to effectively reduce the bovine tuberculosis burden in those areas. Current diagnostic practices employed in Bangladesh may not accurately reflect the bovine tuberculosis burden. Our findings highlight the need for better diagnostic tools and supplemental testing methods to ensure accurate diagnosis and surveillance. Efforts should prioritize obtaining 'true' prevalence estimates corrected for misclassification bias, rather than relying solely on apparent prevalence. Underestimating the bovine tuberculosis burden could result in inadequate resource allocation and hinder the implementation of effective control measures.

Arterial stiffness (arteriosclerosis) has been linked to heightened risks for cognitive decline, and ultimately for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Importantly, neurovascular outcomes generally vary according to one's biological sex. Here, capitalizing on a large sample of participants with neuroimaging and behavioral data (N = 203, age range = 18-87 years), we aimed to provide support for a hierarchical model of neurocognitive aging, which links age-related declines in cerebrovascular health to the rate of cognitive decline via a series of intervening variables, such as white matter integrity. By applying a novel piecewise regression approach to our cross-sectional sample to support Granger-like temporal inferences, we show that, on average, a precipitous decline in cerebral arterial elasticity (measured with diffuse optical imaging of the cerebral arterial pulse; pulse-DOT) precedes an acceleration in the development of white matter lesions by nearly a decade, with women protected from these deleterious effects until approximately age 50, the average onset of menopause. By employing multiple-mediator path analyses while controlling for sex, we show that age may impair cognition via the sequential indirect effects of arteriosclerosis and white matter atrophy on fluid, but not crystallized, abilities. Importantly, we replicate these results using pulse pressure, an independent index of arterial health, thereby providing converging evidence for the central role of arteriosclerosis as an accelerating factor in normal and pathological aging and identifying robust sex-related differences in the progression of cerebral arteriosclerosis and white matter degradation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None of the authors of this article has any financial or other conflicts of interest regarding this work., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Membrane technology is crucial in addressing water pollution challenges, particularly in removing dyes from wastewater. This study presents a novel approach to fabricating shear-aligned graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets incorporated polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes for achieving exceptional dye rejection efficiency while maintaining high water flux. The membranes were prepared by dispersing graphene oxide within a PVDF matrix and subsequent subjection to shear alignment techniques. Shear and flow-induced alignment were explored to achieve precise and controlled alignment of graphene oxide flakes within the PVDF matrix. The resulting membranes exhibited enhanced structural integrity and optimized molecular packing of PVDF and GO, enabling them to selectively reject dyes while allowing efficient water permeation. The fabricated membranes were extensively characterized using appropriate testing methods. The results demonstrated that the shear-aligned GO sheets infused PVDF composite membranes exhibited outstanding dye rejection (96-99%) performance, surpassing conventional membranes while maintaining high water flux. This innovative membrane fabrication approach holds significant promise for advanced water treatment applications, offering a sustainable solution for selective dye removal and efficient water purification., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Yield stability, alongside high yield potential and broad adaptation to various agroclimatic environments, is a key objective for rice breeders aiming to ensure food security. This study aimed to explore the most suitable and stable Boro rice genotypes for Bangladesh. Ten Boro rice genotypes underwent testing in four environments during the 2022 Boro season to investigate genotype-environment interaction (GEI) and yield stability performance. The experiment utilized three replications of a completely randomized block design. Yield stability performance was assessed through combined analysis and the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model. The combined ANOVA revealed that the environment explained 10.23%, while GEI accounted for 9.17%, and the genotypes captured 80.60% of the variance, significantly impacting grain yield. Significance was observed in the environment, genotype main effects, and GEI. Analysis indicated that BRRI dhan 68 yielded the highest (6,754 kg·ha -1 ) and BRRI dhan 88 the lowest (5,620 kg·ha -1 ) among the investigated genotypes. In addition, genotypes BRRI dhan 84, BRRI dhan 81, and BRRI dhan 67 exhibited the highest grain yields. The Rangpur environment demonstrated considerable stability across the four environments with a high mean value of grain yield (7,206 kg·ha -1 ). Therefore, the AMMI model emerges as a valuable tool for identifying the most suitable and stable Boro rice genotypes with high-yielding potential across various regions in Bangladesh, as well as under diverse conditions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Shams Shaila Islam et al.)

L-2-Hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L-2-HGA) is a rare disorder. The patients have psychomotor retardation, ataxia, macrocephaly, and epilepsy usually in childhood. We present a case of L-2-HGA who developed dystonia in the third decade of life. The family reported symptoms of progressive psychomotor regression since childhood. On assessment, the patient had mild impairment of higher mental functions, mild exotropia, and right-hand dystonia. Brain MRI revealed diffuse bilateral symmetrical subcortical white matter hyperintense signals. 2-hydroxyglutaric acid in urine was elevated and the whole genome sequencing revealed a homogeneous pathogenic variant of the L-2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase (L2HGDH) gene. The prognosis was explained to the caregivers. Patients with mild phenotype L-2-HGA can remain undiagnosed until adulthood. Cases of dystonia even without complaints of epilepsy should be investigated by MRI -brain, urine test and genetic testing to rule out L-2-HGA., (Copyright: © Saudi Medical Journal.)

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have revolutionized portable electronics, yet their conventional graphite anodes face capacity limitations. Integrating graphene and 3D molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) offers a promising solution. Ensuring a uniform distribution of 3D MoS 2 nanostructures within a graphene matrix is crucial for optimizing battery performance and preventing issues like agglomeration and capacity degradation. This study focuses on synthesizing a uniformly distributed paper wad structure by optimizing a composite of reduced graphene oxide RGO@MoS 2 through structural and morphological analyses. Three composites with varying graphene content were synthesized, revealing that the optimized sample containing 30 mg RGO demonstrates beneficial synergy between MoS 2 and RGO. The interconnected RGO network enhances reactivity and conductivity, addressing MoS 2 aggregation. Experimental results exhibit an initially superior capacity of 911 mAh g -1 , retained at 851 mAh g -1 even after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g -1 current density, showcasing improved rate efficiency and long-term stability. This research underscores the pivotal role of graphene content in customizing RGO@MoS 2 composites for enhanced LIB performance., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Introduction: Mental fatigue is an early and enduring symptom in persons with autoimmune disease particularly multiple sclerosis (MS). Neuromodulation has emerged as a potential treatment although optimal cortical targets have yet to be determined. We aimed to examine cortical hemodynamic responses within bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and frontopolar areas during single and dual cognitive tasks in persons with MS-related fatigue compared to matched controls., Methods: We recruited persons (15 MS and 12 age- and sex-matched controls) who did not have physical or cognitive impairment and were free from depressive symptoms. Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) registered hemodynamic responses during the tasks. We calculated oxyhemoglobin peak, time-to-peak, coherence between channels (a potential marker of neurovascular coupling) and functional connectivity (z-score)., Results: In MS, dlPFC demonstrated disrupted hemodynamic coherence during both single and dual tasks, as evidenced by non-significant and negative correlations between fNIRS channels. In MS, reduced coherence occurred in left dorsolateral PFC during the single task but occurred bilaterally as the task became more challenging. Functional connectivity was lower during dual compared to single tasks in the right dorsolateral PFC in both groups. Lower z-score was related to greater feelings of fatigue. Peak and time-to-peak hemodynamic response did not differ between groups or tasks., Conclusions: Hemodynamic responses were inconsistent and disrupted in people with MS experiencing mental fatigue, which worsened as the task became more challenging. Our findings point to dlPFC, but not frontopolar areas, as a potential target for neuromodulation to treat cognitive fatigue., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Baldasso et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs) play a crucial role in the healthcare delivery system of Bangladesh. But very few research has been conducted to find out the prevailing challenges of the medical officers working in these tiers. The objective of the study was to identify the challenges faced by medical officers in providing healthcare services at UHCs and DHs., Methods: In-depth interviews of 51 medical officers from 17 UHCs and nine DHs were done between March and April 2021. All participants were purposively sampled. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis., Findings: Inadequate service rooms, unavailability of proper medical equipment, poor housing conditions, lack of public amenities, shortage of health workforce, lack of laboratory services, and excessive workload were the common challenges mentioned by the medical officers in providing healthcare services in UHCs and DHs. Lack of workplace safety, security, and undue pressure from local political leaders and journalists made the work environment fearful. The absence of proper implementation of policy related to higher education, posting, transfer, and promotion was also stated as challenge for the medical officers., Interpretation: Infrastructural improvements along with increased safety and security of the doctors at their workplace and transparent implementation of reformed policies are essential to reduce the workplace challenges of medical officers in UHCs and DHs of Bangladesh., Funding: The study was funded by Hospital Services Management, Directorate General Of Health Services (DGHS), Mohakhali, Dhaka, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University., Competing Interests: The study was funded by Hospital Services Management, DGHS, Mohakhali, Dhaka-1212, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. We declare no competing interests., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

The primary site of metastasis for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the peritoneum, and it occurs through a multistep process that begins with adhesive contacts between cancer cells and mesothelial cells. Despite evidence that Notch signaling has a role in ovarian cancer, it is unclear how exactly it contributes to ovarian cancer omental metastasis, as well as the cellular dynamics and intrinsic pathways that drive this tropism. Here we show that tumor cells produced the Notch ligand Jagged2 is a clinically and functionally critical mediator of ovarian cancer omental metastasis by activating the Notch signaling in single-layered omental mesothelial cells. In turn, Jagged2 promotes tumor growth and therapeutic resistance by stimulating IL-6 release from mesothelial cells. Additionally, Jagged2 is a potent downstream mediator of the omental metastasis cytokine TGF-β that is released during omental destruction. Importantly, therapeutic inhibition of Jagged2-mediated omental metastasis was significantly improved by directly disrupting the Notch pathway in omental mesothelial cells. These findings highlight the key role of Jagged2 to the functional interplay between the TGF-β and the Notch signaling pathways during the metastatic process of ovarian cancer cells to the omentum and identify the Notch signaling molecule as a precision therapeutic target for ovarian cancer metastasis., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

A survey of awareness and attitudes to the management of fragility fractures among the membership of the Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association conducted in 2022 found considerable variation in care across the region. A Call to Action is proposed to improve acute care, rehabilitation and secondary fracture prevention across Asia Pacific., Purpose: Fragility fractures impose a substantial burden on older people and their families, healthcare systems and national economies. The current incidence of hip and other fragility fractures across the Asia Pacific region is enormous and set to escalate rapidly in the coming decades. This publication describes findings of a survey of awareness and attitudes to the management of fragility fractures among the membership of the Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association (APOA) conducted in 2022., Methods: The survey was developed as a collaboration between the Asia Pacific Osteoporosis and Fragility Fracture Society and the Asia Pacific Fragility Fracture Alliance, and included questions relating to aspects of care upon presentation, during surgery and mobilisation, secondary fracture prevention, and access to specific services., Results: In total, 521 APOA members completed the survey and marked variation in delivery of care was evident. Notable findings included: Fifty-nine percent of respondents indicated that analgesia was routinely initiated in transit (by paramedics) or within 30 minutes of arrival in the Emergency Department. One-quarter of respondents stated that more than 80% of their patients underwent surgery within 48 hours of admission. One-third of respondents considered non-hip, non-vertebral fractures to merit assessment of future fracture risk. One-third of respondents reported the presence of an Orthogeriatric Service in their hospital, and less than a quarter reported the presence of a Fracture Liaison Service., Conclusion: A Call to Action for all National Orthopaedic Associations affiliated with APOA is proposed to improve the care of fragility fracture patients across the region., (© 2024. International Osteoporosis Foundation and Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation.)

The field-effect transistor (FET) is a fundamental component of semiconductors and the electronic industry. High on-current and mobility with layer-dependent features are required for outstanding FET channel material. Two-dimensional materials are advantageous over bulk materials owing to their higher mobility, high ON/OFF ratio, low tunneling current, and leakage problems. Moreover, two-dimensional heterostructures provide a better way to tune electrical properties. In this work, the two distinct possibilities of PdSe 2 /MoSe 2 heterostructure have been employed through mechanical exfoliation and analyzed their electrical response. These diffe approaches to heterostructure formation serve as crucial components of our investigation, allowing us to explore and evaluate the unique electronic properties arising from each design. This work demonstrates that the heterostructure possesses a better ON/OFF ratio of ∼5.78 × 10 5 , essential in switching characteristics. Moreover, MoSe 2 provides a defect-free interface to PdSe 2 , resulting in a higher ON current of ∼10 μ A and mobility of ∼63.7 cm 2 V -1 s -1 , necessary for transistor applications. In addition, comprehending the process of charge transfer occurring at the interface between transition metal dichalcogenides is fundamental for advancing next-generation technologies. This work provides insights into the interface formed between the PdSe 2 and MoSe 2 that can be harnessed in transistor applications., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Background and Aim: Campylobacter infections in sheep may be asymptomatic or cause enteritis, ileitis, infertility, and abortion. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in farming sheep and to detect risk factors, molecular patterns, and antimicrobial susceptibility status of these pathogens., Materials and Methods: Four hundred and eight fecal samples were collected from 12 flocks in the Mymensingh and Sherpur districts. Samples were tested by both basic (culture and biochemical tests) and molecular (initially 16S rRNA and later hipO gene-based polymerase chain reaction). Furthermore, the antimicrobial susceptibility status of Campylobacter jejuni was confirmed using disk diffusion. Flock- and animal-level data were captured using semi-structured interviews with farm owners under bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to confirm the risk factors for Campylobacter -positive status., Results: The prevalence of C. jejuni staining at the animal and flock levels was 8.82% (36/408) and 66.70% (8/12), respectively. The age of sheep was identified as an important risk factor. Up to 1 year of age, sheep were 3.78 times more likely to be infected with C. jejuni (95% confidence interval: 1.0736-13.3146, p = 0.038). Of the 36 isolates of C. jejuni , all were found to be fully susceptible (100%) to gentamicin and ciprofloxacin. In this study, three antimicrobial agents, oxytetracycline, azithromycin, and ceftriaxone, were fully resistant (100%). The majority of isolates were resistant to a combination of 4-6 antimicrobial agents., Conclusion: The present study highlights the predominant maintenance of zoonotic Campylobacter species in sheep, and their burden on human health is enormous. Therefore, environmental, animal, and human health needs to be focused under a One Health lens to mitigate the occurrence of Campylobacter in farm settings and to prevent further introduction to animals and humans., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Nobi, et al.)