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Abstract The present study was undertaken to know the suppression of weed growth through Dryopteris serrato-dentata (Beddome) Hayata (Dhekishak) and Blumea lacera Dc. (Shialmutra) residues and to estimate the manures and fertilizers effect with the Dhekishakand Shialmutra residues on boro rice at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, during the period from November 2022 to April 2023. There were two rice varieties viz., BRRI dhan29 (V1) and BRRI dhan89 (V2) having seven different treatments comprising of residues of Dryopteris serrato-dentata (Beddome) Hayata and Blumea lacera Dc., manures and fertilizers (t ha−1): Control (R1), Residues1.5 + Cowdung 5 (R2), Residues1.5 + Cowdung 2.5 + 50% of recommended dose Fertilizer (R3), Residues 1.5 + Vermicompost 5 (R4), Residues 1.5 + Vermicompost 2.5 + 50% of recommended dose Fertilizer (R5), Residues 1.5 + Trichocompost 10 (R6) and Residues 1.5 + Trichocompost 5 + 50% of recommended dose Fertilizer (R7) and was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Eleven weed species from seven families were found in this study. Minimum weed growth (1.68) was found in treatment V2R5 (BRRI dhan89 × Residues 1.5 + Vermicompost 2.5 + 50% of recommended dose Fertilizer) and the maximum was (67.40) in V2R1 (BRRI dhan89 × Control). The grain yield as well as the yielding parameters such as the effective tillers hill−1 (8.83), grains panicle−1 (124.98), grain yield (5.33 t ha−1), straw yield (6.49 t ha−1) were recorded highest in V2R5 (BRRI dhan89 × Residues 1.5 + Vermicompost 2.5 + 50% of recommended dose Fertilizer). It was obvious from the study that the residues had capability to suppress the weed growth and integrated manures and fertilizers enhances the yield performance of boro rice. Therefore, Dryopteris serrato-dentata (Beddome) Hayata and Blumea lacera Dc. residues combined with manures and fertilizers might be an efficient source of eco-friendly weed management and yield enhancement tool for sustainable boro rice production.

Abstract Background Before every sporting event, almost all athletes engage in a routine practice of warming up to prepare the body for peak performance. There has been a surge in popularity within the athletic world around the use of percussive massage therapy (PMT). Objectives The objectives of this study were to see if using percussive massage therapy, foam rolling (FR), and hamstring stretching (HStr) as part of a warm-up routine had any acute effects on flexibility, jumping performance, and range of motion in junior athletes, and if so, whether there was a significant difference in the acute effects of these treatment methods. Methods Thirty-nine junior athletes with at least 3 years of experience, male gender, age range above 17, seated flexion test

Abstract This study shows the impact of varying cement content while maintaining a constant water-to-cement (w/c) ratio on the performance of self-healing concrete. It also explores the effect of F-type fly ash on the self-healing mechanism of concrete. Self-healing concrete, incorporating super absorbent polymers, offers a viable remedy to diminish the detrimental effects of cracks, enhancing the durability and lifespan of concrete structures. While the w/c ratio is a crucial factor influencing concrete properties, the impact of varying cement content under a constant w/c ratio in self-healing concrete remains understudied. Therefore, this experiment involved preparing 18 different concrete mixtures using three distinct cement contents under three specific w/c ratios. Fly ash was mixed in half of the specimens. Super absorbent polymers are incorporated into all mixtures to facilitate autonomous healing by absorbing and retaining water, which is released upon crack formation. Specimens were pre-cacked using a stress-controlled UTM machine. To evaluate the self-healing mechanism, low water pressure permeability test, water absorption test, and image analysis were conducted at 7, 14, 28, and 56 days. The findings of this study show that a w/c ratio of 0.35 yielded the best performance which indicates a lower w/c shows a higher self-healing performance. Additionally, the specimen containing a higher cement content exhibited enhanced healing capacity compared to other specimens. However, the specimens with fly ash failed to show a satisfactory result on self-healing capacity because the addition of silicon-based fly ash (F type) created an adverse effect on the self-healing mechanism.

The Galerkin approach for numerically resolving higher-order Complex Differential Equations (CDEs) in a rectangular domain in the complex plane is presented in this work. Taylor polynomial functions are used in this method as basis or weighted functions. The CDE is converted into a matrix equation by employing the proposed method. A system of linear and nonlinear equations with unknown Taylor coefficients for linear and nonlinear CDEs, respectively, is represented by the resultant matrix equation. Results pertaining to this method’s error analysis are discussed. The existing Taylor and Bessel Collocation methods are compared with the numerical results of the proposed method for linear CDEs, and the existing exact solutions and numerical results of the proposed method for nonlinear CDEs are also compared. The comparative results are displayed graphically for the real (ℜe) and imaginary (ℑm) parts, respectively, as well as in tabular form containing absolute error E(z) and maximum absolute error L∞norm. The methodology of this study focused on the Galerkin integral domain which is a rectangle shape in the complex plane and Taylor polynomial is the shape function. Matrix formulation procedure and iterative technique are implemented to find out the undetermined Taylor coefficients.

Modeling and simulating laser heating phenomena are crucial for optimizing manufacturing processes and ensuring high-quality final products. A major challenge in semiconductor manufacturing is achieving accurate, real-time temperature control during wafer heating. To reduce the computational burden of complex mathematical models, low-dimensional reduced models can be employed. In this paper, we develop a mathematical model for laser heating in silicon wafers. For model reduction, we use the balanced truncation method, considering both frequency-unrestricted and restricted cases. Additionally, the rational Krylov subspace method is applied to solve high-dimensional sparse matrix equations. To gain key physical insights, we use the COMSOL Multiphysics package. Finally, some numerical experiments are conducted using MATLAB to validate the proposed approach.

This research aims to estimate the solutions of fractional-order partial differential equations of spacial fractional and both time-space fractional order. For this, we use finite differences for time derivatives and the well-known collocation method for space derivatives with lower-order Bernstein polynomials as basis functions. We explain the mathematical formulations in detail. Convergence and stability analysis of the space–time fractional diffusion equation with the source term is reported subsequently. Three numerical examples are considered for demonstrating the accuracy and reliability of the proposed method.

Fat accumulation on the arteries' walls has become a serious health concern. This study conducted an in-depth hemodynamic analysis to identify the regions of a human carotid artery most susceptible to fat accumulation or atherosclerosis, considering the following factors: blood velocity, secondary flow regions, pressure, and wall shear stress. The hemodynamic analysis used a generalized geometric model to analyze these factors at various locations within the carotid bifurcation over different time points. Results showed that the bifurcation region is comparatively more affected by the factors contributing to atherosclerosis. Especially, the sinus region experiences all the key factors: a larger secondary flow, higher blood pressure, lower mean WSS, and lower fluctuation in temporal WSS. The findings indicate that the bifurcation region, particularly the sinus is prone to fat accumulation. These results are consistent with clinical observations, emphasizing the bifurcation and sinus regions as key sites for plaque accumulation. Insights from this analysis will serve as a foundation for optimizing geometric models of bifurcated arteries to improve blood flow and, consequently, reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.

Abstract Background Small-for-gestational-age (SGA), commonly caused by poor placentation, is a major contributor to global perinatal mortality and morbidity. Maternal serum levels of placental protein and angiogenic factors are changed in SGA. Using data from a population-based pregnancy cohort, we estimated the relationships between levels of second-trimester pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), placental growth factor (PlGF), and serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) with SGA. Methods Three thousand pregnant women were enrolled. Trained health workers prospectively collected data at home visits. Maternal blood samples were collected, serum aliquots were prepared and stored at -80℃. Included in the analysis were 1,718 women who delivered a singleton live birth baby and provided a blood sample at 24–28 weeks of gestation. We used Mann-Whitney U test to examine differences of the median biomarker concentrations between SGA (

Weed competition is a major constraint to maize production, and the selection of weed-competitive varieties can significantly reduce yield losses necessitating the identification of varieties with superior weed competitiveness. This study evaluated the weed competitiveness of 12 popular maize varieties in Bangladesh under weedy and weed-free conditions during the 2018-2019 rabi season using a split-plot design. Weed competitiveness was assessed based on crop growth, yield, weed density, and weed dry biomass. Results revealed significant variability in weed competitiveness among the tested varieties. BARI Hybrid Bhutta 13 exhibited the highest weed competitiveness, with the lowest relative yield loss (40%) and the highest weed competitive index (6.9). In contrast, Hiramon showed the highest relative yield loss (85%), closely followed by Mohabir and PacD22, while Khoi Bhutta recorded the lowest weed competitive index. Under season-long weedy and weed-free conditions, BARI Hybrid Bhutta 13 achieved the highest grain yield (9.8 t ha⁻¹), whereas BARI Hybrid Bhutta 12 and Mohabir produced the lowest yields in both conditions. These findings highlight substantial varietal differences in weed competitiveness, emphasizing the potential of selecting weed-tolerant maize varieties to mitigate yield losses and improve productivity. This study provides valuable insights for farmers and breeders in identifying and promoting weed-competitive maize varieties, contributing to sustainable maize production in Bangladesh. [Fundam Appl Agric 2024; 9(4.000): 294-302]

Abstract The pharmacological effects of limonene, especially their derivatives, are currently at the forefront of research for drug development and discovery as well and structure-based drug design using huge chemical libraries are already widespread in the early stages of therapeutic and drug development. Here, various limonene derivatives are studied computationally for their potential utilization against the capsid protein of Herpes Simplex Virus-1. Firstly, limonene derivatives were designed by structural modification followed by conducting a molecular docking experiment against the capsid protein of Herpes Simplex Virus-1. In this research, the obtained molecular docking score exhibited better efficiency against the capsid protein of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 and hence we conducted further in silico investigation including molecular dynamic simulation, quantum calculation, and ADMET analysis. Molecular docking experiment has documented that Ligands 02 and 03 had much better binding affinities (− 7.4 kcal/mol and − 7.1 kcal/mol) to capsid protein of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 than Standard Acyclovir (− 6.5 kcal/mol). Upon further investigation, the binding affinities of primary limonene were observed to be slightly poor. But including the various functional groups also increases the affinities and capacity to prevent viral infection of the capsid protein of Herpes Simplex Virus-1. Then, the molecular dynamic simulation confirmed that the mentioned ligands might be stable during the formation of drug-protein complexes. Finally, the analysis of ADMET was essential in establishing them as safe and human-useable prospective chemicals. According to the present findings, limonene derivatives might be a promising candidate against the capsid protein of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 which ultimately inhibits Herpes Simplex Virus-induced encephalitis that causes interventions in brain inflammation. Our findings suggested further experimental screening to determine their practical value and utility.

Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) is a legume widely recognized for diverse uses. Like other legumes, mungbean plants also possess a remarkable ability to interact with nitrogen-fixing bacteria by inhabiting plant roots. This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of foliar Zn application on the growth and yield contributing traits of mungbean, and to determine the best Zn fertilizer management for optimum mungbean growth and yield. The experiment was comprised of one factor, viz. management of the zinc fertilizer, and seven treatments, viz. (i) No zinc application (Control) [T1], (ii) Basal application of ZnSO4.7H2O @ 10 kg ha-1 [T2], (iii) Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4.7H2O solution at pre-flowering stage (i.e. 40 days after sowing (DAS)) [T3], (iv) Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4.7H2O solution at flowering stage (i.e., 50 DAS) [T4], (v) Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4.7H2O solution at pod formation stage (i.e. 60 DAS) [T5], (vi) Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4.7H2O solution at 40 DAS and 50 DAS [T6], (vii) Foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4.7H2O solution at 40, 50 and 60 DAS [T7]. The experimental treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Plant characteristics such as plant height, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, and yield contributing characteristics including number of pods plant-1, number of good pods plant-1, number of grains pod-1, and weight of 1000 grains were significantly influenced by Zn fertilization. The highest values for all parameters, including maximum grain yield (0.84 ± .06 t ha-1) and stover yield (4.64 ± 0.85 t ha-1), were recorded at T7, where foliar application of 0.5% ZnSO4.7H2O was applied at 40, 50 and 60 DAS. [Fundam Appl Agric 2024; 9(2.000): 59-64]

Allelopathy plays an important role in weed control and crop productivity. We evaluated the effect of the residues of Rumex maritimus on the growth performance of boro rice comprising two cultivars i.e., BRRI dhan58 and BRRI dhan74 and four rates of R. maritimus residues treatment such as 0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 t/ha and a farmers practice. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. We identified four weed species (Panikachu, Shama, Shusni, Chesra) belonging to four families. Dry weight of Shama, Shusni, Chesra except Panikachu were significantly affected by variety. The highest Shama dry weight (6.61 g/0.0625 m2) was found in BRRI dhan74 and the lowest weed population (5.81 g/0.0625 m2) was obtained in BRRI dhan58 at 1% level of probability and also the highest Chesra dry weight (5.58 g/0.0625 m2) was found in BRRI dhan74 and the lowest weed population (4.89g/0.0625 m2) was obtained in BRRI dhan58 at 1% level of probability. The highest Shusni dry weight (5.11 g/0.0625 m2) was found in BRRI dhan58 and the lowest weed population (5.00 g/0.0625 m2) was obtained in BRRI dhan74 at a 1% level of probability. Weed density and dry weight were also significantly affected by variety and residue treatment. Results of this study indicate that R. maritimus residues showed the potential to inhibit weed growth of boro rice. Therefore, R. maritimus residues might be used as an alternative way for weed management in effective and sustainable crop production.

IntroductionEfficient treatment of fecal sludge in densely populated settings is essential as it has a direct impact on public health and the environment. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of fecal sludge treatment technologies in Rohingya camps at Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, focusing on removal efficiencies and compliance with regulatory standards.MethodsSeventeen treatment plants of five different technologies were evaluated based on removal efficiency and standard discharge guidelines for various physicochemical and microbiological parameters.ResultsWaste Stabilization Pond (WSP) was the top performer compared to four other different treatment technologies evaluated, achieving notable removal rates: 97.3% reduction in E. coli, 100% in helminth eggs, 98.3% for COD, 97.8% for BOD, 98.7% for TSS, 92.1% for TS, 82.8% for phosphate, and 93.3% for total nitrogen. Lime Stabilization Ponds showed lower removal rates, except for E. coli (98.9%), with reductions of 99.7% for helminth eggs, 81.6% for COD, 80.9% for BOD, 86.3% for TSS, 68.6% for TS, and 49.2% for phosphate. Upflow Filters demonstrated good removal efficiencies for E. coli (99.7%), TSS (95.9%), COD (91.7%), BOD (93.5%), and helminth eggs (93.7%). WSP consistently outperformed other technologies across all seasons. Despite these, none of the technologies fully met discharge standards.DiscussionThese findings highlight the need for a comprehensive approach, the combination of physicochemical and biological processes, to enhance efficacy. Promoting improved fecal sludge management technologies through awareness campaigns and technical support can mitigate environmental health risks in densely populated humanitarian settings.

Key Clinical Message A 17‐year‐old girl with a congenital, painless right forehead swelling obstructing her visual field was diagnosed with sinus pericranii. Radiological imaging confirmed extracalvarial arteriovenous malformation with serpentine vessels and bony erosion. Endovascular surgery was chosen for management, highlighting the necessity of considering SP in differential diagnosis for scalp swellings. Despite its rarity, awareness of it is essential to prevent complications from injury, misdiagnosis, or invasive procedures.

Objective: The study was primarily conducted to assess the stakeholders' knowledge regarding the contamination caused by heavy metals in poultry feedstuffs. The concentration of some heavy metals (lead, chromium, cadmium, and nickel) and macro-minerals (sodium, potassium, and calcium) was also analyzed in poultry feeds collected from selected local markets in Sherpur district, Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: A well-structured questionnaire survey was used to investigate different stakeholders' perspectives in relation to metal contamination in feed. Heavy metals and calcium were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The flame emission spectrophotometric technique was applied to determine sodium and potassium. Results: The majority of the stakeholders (90%) were found to have no knowledge regarding heavy metal contamination. Lead and nickel concentrations were below the detectable level in the collected samples. The average concentration of chromium in Jhenaigati upazila was four times higher than in Nalitabari upazila, at 21.806 mg kg−1 and 5.452 mg kg−1, respectively. The concentrations of cadmium in both brand and nonbrand samples exceeded the maximum allowable limit set by the European Union at 1.329 mg kg−1 and 1.328 mg kg−1, respectively. Sodium, potassium, and calcium were found in the ranges of 0.0011%–0.0035%, 0.0010%–0.0013%, and 0.0080%–0.0305%, which were extremely low in concentration compared to the minimum requirement in poultry feed. Conclusion: Regular surveillance and governance systems should be incorporated into national policy to cease the hazardous impacts of heavy metals through feed contamination. From a nutritional viewpoint, poultry feeds need to be critically formulated. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11(1.000): 47-54]

Wi-Fi based human activity recognition is emerging and preferable over other approaches due to its numerous advantages, including privacy considerations, ubiquitousness, and easy deployment. While existing literature predominantly focuses on identifying the activities of a single-user, recognizing multi-person interactions (MPIs) is increasingly significant due to their profound social implications. However, research in this area has not progressed due to the limitation of publicly available Wi-Fi datasets and the complexities of MPI recognition. Motivated by this, we develop and publicly release a Wi-Fi channel state information (CSI) based MPI recognition dataset, coined Wi-MIR, that uses three transmit and three receive antennas to capture 270 ( $ {3}\times {3}\times {30}$ ) subcarriers with a sampling rate of 950 Hz. This dataset consists of 3740 trials encompassing seventeen distinct MPIs and is collected by eleven human pairs in an indoor environment. We put forth a lightweight deep learning model with attention mechanisms for MPI recognition from CSI, named CSI-IRNet, that adeptly concentrates on pertinent features, filtering out irrelevant elements, and mitigating the impact of signal complexity within the CSI for recognizing MPIs accurately. In addition, we compare the developed Wi-MIR and the existing public dataset by evaluating the performance of MPI recognition on both datasets to highlight the strengths and advancements provided by Wi-MIR. The evaluation results show that Wi-MIR dataset demonstrates a superior recognition performance by utilizing more subcarriers with a higher sampling rate as well as covering more diverse kinds of MPIs (Bowing, Conversation, Exchanging objects, Helping standup, Helping walk, and Touching another person).

Abstract Extensive use of the Internet of Things (IoT) in smart homes makes users' lives easy and comfortable. Yet, these resource‐constrained devices are prone to manifold security attacks. The sinkhole attack is one of the most destructive attacks that disrupt smart home operations, causing user dissatisfaction. Existing intrusion detection systems (IDS) cannot handle sinkhole attacks competently as they (i) do not consider the node capacity for being an IDS agent, leading to a low attack detection ratio, (ii) do not examine the sinkhole node's role when mitigating attacks, causing remaining network disconnection with the root node and (iii) do not consider replacing energy‐exhausted IDS nodes, causing connectivity loss of partial network with the root. This paper addresses these shortcomings and adequately presents a mechanism to handle sinkhole attacks. A formulation for assigning weights to network nodes based on their resources is proposed here. An IDS placement strategy is introduced to place IDS agents on particular resourceful nodes that extend network lifetime and enhance attack detection capability. We present a novel attack detection and mitigation strategy by ensuring network connectivity. The proposed mechanism achieves 95% attack detection accuracy and reduces false negative rates by 25% and energy consumption reasonably compared to the state‐of‐the‐art.

The fractional form of the classical diffusion equation embodies the super-diffusive and sub-diffusive characteristics of any flow, depending on the fractional order. This study aims to approximate the solution of parabolic partial differential equations of fractional order in time and space. For this, firstly, we briefly discussed on some existing methods to solve Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) and fractional Differential Equations (DEs), then introduce a combined technique such as the Galerkin weighted residual method for the space fractional term with modified Bernoulli polynomials as basis functions, and the finite difference approximation for the time fractional term, respectively. The mathematical formulation of the proposed method is explained elaborately. Then we describe the order of convergence for the time fractional term only, as the convergence of the Galerkin method is obvious. We impose this technique on the fractional Black-Scholes model subsequently. Finally, we experimented with our proposed technique on some numerical problems. All the results are depicted in both tabular and 3D visualizations as well. We compare our results with the available methods in the literature, and our accuracy is considerable. To summarize: • The paper introduces an approach that integrates the Galerkin weighted residual method with modified Bernoulli polynomials to handle space fractional terms, alongside employing a finite difference approximation for time fractional terms. • The convergence analysis is focused. • The technique is implemented on the fractional Black-Scholes model and other numerical problems, with outcomes depicted through tables and 3D visualizations.

Background and Aim: Informal prescribers (IPs) significantly contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance and in disseminating pathogens from poultry to humans and other animals through the food chain, posing a serious global health threat. Therefore, this study aimed to assess whether the knowledge of IPs has an impact on their attitude and practice toward antimicrobial use, antibiotic residues, and antimicrobial resistance. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we conducted a pre-tested and questionnaire-based survey to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of IPs in selected parts of the Mymensingh division, Bangladesh. Then, we used the linear regression model test with R-squared (R2) to measure the association between the study variables. Results: Our investigation revealed that 70% of the IPs knew about antibiotics and 75% had good knowledge about antibiotic resistance, whereas only 50% were aware of withdrawal periods. Informal prescribers also displayed good attitudes toward the use and sale of antibiotics with withdrawal periods and completion of medication (50%). Analysis of their practice on the sale and prescription of antibiotics showed that 70% and 30% of IPs use antibiotics against bacterial infections and other conditions, respectively. Most of them do not consult a veterinarian before selling or prescribing antibiotics, although 80% claim to do so. This is because 75% of IPs gave other options regarding their consultations. However, 95% of IPs uses antibiotics only for therapeutic purposes. Furthermore, only 10% sell antibiotics based on a veterinarian’s recommendation. Approximately 45% of IPs use single antibiotics at a time, while the rest use multiple antibiotics, individually or combined. Approximately 15% use antibiotics monthly, while 85% use them whenever the need arises. The knowledge and attitude of IPs are significantly affected by their age (p ≤ 0.025). The district of domicile also impacted their knowledge. Surprisingly, IPs from Jamalpur had significantly better knowledge compared to those from Mymensingh and Sherpur (p ≤ 0.01). The attitude of IPs from Jamalpur and Netrokona also differed significantly (p ≤ 0.001) from that of Mymensingh and Sherpur. The knowledge of IPs influenced their attitude up to 80.5% (r2 = 0.628) and their practice up to 75.4% (r2 = 0.545). Conclusion: The knowledge of IPs greatly influenced their attitude and practice, while sociodemographics also influenced their knowledge and attitude toward antimicrobial use, antibiotic residues, and antimicrobial resistance.

Tidal canal Madari-Khal is one of the important tributaries of the river Halda, through which nearby hill stream water, agricultural washings, and effluents (treated or untreated) of Chattogram Asian paper Mill are drained to the Halda River. In this paper water quality and pollution level of Madari Khal are presented. A one-year study was conducted to ascertain the water quality and pollution level by using different physicochemical parameters i.e. Air temperature, Water temperature, Transparency, EC (Electrical Conductivity), TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), pH, DO (Dissolved Oxygen), freeCO2, Ca++ (Calcium), TH (Total Hardness), TA (Total Alkalinity), and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5). WAWQI (Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index) showed that the water quality of the Madari Khal tributary was poor (C grade) and unsuitable for human consumption and fish and other aquatic lives. The study might be useful to policymakers, planners, and local users to manage the water quality in pollution-free conditions.

In a first-of-its-kind study, terrestrial radionuclide concentrations were measured in 35 topsoil samples from the outskirts of Dhaka using HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry to assess the radiological consequences of such a vast number of brick kilns on the plant workers, general as well as dwelling environment. The range of activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K is found at 19 ± 3.04 to 38 ± 4.94, 39 ± 5.85 to 57 ± 7.41, and (430 ± 51.60 to 570 ± 68.40) Bq/kg, respectively. 232Th and 40K concentrations were higher than the global averages. Bottom ash deposition in lowlands, fly ash buildup in soils, and the fallout of micro-particles are all probable causes of the elevated radioactivity levels. 137Cs was found in the sample, which indicates the migration of 137Cs from nuclear accidents or nuclear fallout, or the contamination of feed coal. Although the effective dose received by the general public was below the recommended dose limit but, most estimates of hazard parameters surpass their respective population weighted global averages, indicating that brick kiln workers and nearby residents are not safe due to prolonged exposures to terrestrial radiation. In addition, the soil around sampling sites is found to be unsuitable for agricultural purposes.

Abstract Background Flavin monoamine oxidase gene encodes a protein (MAOB) that forms a part of the flavin monoamine oxidase family in the outer membrane of mitochondria. It plays a role in the tissue metabolism of neuroactive and vasoactive amines as well as the oxidative deamination of xenobiotic and biogenic amines. However, overexpression of the receptor reduced apoptosis in cells, resulting in the progress of prostate sarcoma. Therefore, various kinds of MAOB antagonists are often used to fix an apoptosis mechanism that makes it hard to get rid of cancer from live tissues. Moreover, chemical compounds that have been discovered to be MAOB inhibitors to date exhibit side effects that are causing problems in chemotherapy treatment. The study aims to discover new purchasable compound that induces apoptosis by allowing caspases to operate at their maximum efficiency and is low toxic. Methods With the assistance of virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation (MD), a structure-based pharmacophore model of the protein active site cavity was made. Twenty hits were found, and then a molecular docking strategy was used to choose four molecules to study in more depth. MD simulations were used to check the stability of the four compounds, and they were all shown to be stable when bound to the target protein. Results Four newly discovered compounds, included with ZINC ID Such as ZINC12143050, ZINC08301324, ZINC16743012, and ZINC64165826 with binding scores of − 11.7, − 11.4, − 11.2 and − 11.1 kcal/mol, respectively, may serve as lead compounds for the treatment of prostate cancer associated with MAOB; however, further evaluation through wet lab is needed to determine the compounds effectiveness. Conclusion A structure-based model was initially developed, followed by molecular docking, ADMET analysis, and MD simulation. The top four natural compounds identified in the A-to-Z virtual screening process could serve as lead molecules in the fight against prostate cancer.

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.

IntroductionIn Bangladesh, rice straw (RS) and sawdust (SD) substrates have traditionally been used in the production of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus). However, the rising costs of these substrates have led many to look for alternatives.ObjectivesThe present study thus focuses on the potential of waste tea leaves (WTL) for mushroom farming.MethodsWe prepared various substrate mixtures by combining WTL with SD and RS, subsequently evaluating mushroom yield and various quality parameters such as amino acid concentration, mineral content, and biological efficiency.Results and discussionOur investigation revealed that WTL alone is not a suitable substrate for mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) growth. However, when combined with SD at a 50% ratio, it significantly boosts mushroom yield and biological efficiency (BE). Conversely, a reduction in yield was noted when WTL was mixed with RS in all tested treatments, although BE surpassed 50%. In summary, incorporating WTL into both substrates proves economically viable from the BE standpoint. According to PCA analysis, the minerals and amino acid content varied based on the different substrate formulations involving WTL blending with both SD and RS at different ratios. Remarkably, mushroom fruiting bodies exhibited lower levels of Na and Fe despite these elements being present in higher concentrations in the growing substrates, suggesting the inability of P. ostreatus to bioaccumulate Na and Fe. Conversely, we observed higher bioaccumulation of Zn and P, even exceeding substrate levels. Importantly, our findings showed that mushrooms cultivated on WTL-based formulations consistently contained elevated Zn levels irrespective of substrate types, indicating that WTL enriched Zn in mushrooms. Additionally, the Fe level increased specifically in RS + WTL-based formulations. All essential and non-essential amino acids were detected, with the highest concentration of histidine, isoleucine, and methionine found in the WTL + SD formulation. Non-essential amino acids (NEAA) like alanine and glutamic acid were more prominent in formulations combining WTL with RS. This study represents the first documented exploration of the impact of WTL on the accumulation of intracellular metabolites including minerals and amino acids, in P. ostreatus.

In this work, we study the modulation instability (MI) and closed-form soliton solution of the modified Korteweg–de Vries–Zakharov–Kuznetsov (mKdV-ZK) equation with a truncated M-fractional derivative. The mKdV-ZK equation can be used to describe the behavior of ion-acoustic waves in plasma and the propagation of surface waves in deep water with nonlinear and dispersive effects in fluid dynamics. To execute a closed soliton solution, we implement two dominant techniques, namely, the improved F-expansion scheme and unified solver techniques for the mKdV-ZK equation. Under the condition of parameters, the obtained solutions exhibit hyperbolic, trigonometric, and rational functions with free parameters. Using the Maple software, we present three-dimensional (3D) plots with density plots and two-dimensional (2D) graphical representations for appropriate values of the free parameters. Under the conditions of the numerical values of the free parameters, the obtained closed-form solutions provided some novel phenomena such as antikink shape wave, dark bell shape, collision of kink and periodic lump wave, periodic wave, collision of antikink and periodic lump wave, collision of linked lump wave with kink shape, periodic lump wave by using improved F-expansion method and kink shape, diverse type of periodic wave, singular soliton, and bright bell and dark bell-shape wave phenomena by using unified solver method. The comparative effects of the fractional derivative are illustrated in 2D plots. We also provided a comparison between the results obtained through the suggested scheme and those obtained by other approaches, showing some similar solutions and some that are different. Besides, to check of stability and instability of the solution, the MI analysis of the given system is investigated based on the standard linear stability analysis and the MI gain spectrum analysis. With the use of symbolic calculations, the applied approach is clear, simple, and elementary, as demonstrated by the more broad and novel results that are obtained. It may also be applied to more complex phenomena.

In an experimental investigation, we looked into how different zinc (Zn) and boron (B) dosages affected the production and the amount of oil in mustard. Zn and B treatments, respectively, were separated into four levels: 0, 1, 2, 4, and 0, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 kg per hectare. We observed considerable Zn as well as B effects on mustard yield and its oil content. The maximum (1.6 Ton per hectare) and minimum (1.3 T ha−1) seed output, the maximum (1.9 T ha−1) and minimum (1.5 T ha−1) stover production, the maximum (4.9) and minimum (3.99) number branches plant−1, and the longest (114.6 cm) and shortest (87.44 cm) plant height were observed from 4 kg of Zn ha−1 and 0 kg of Zn ha−1, respectively. On the other hand, we discovered that applying 0.8 kg and 0 kg of B ha−1, respectively, resulted in the highest (1.6 T ha−1) and lowest (1.3 T ha−1) seed yield, the highest (1.8 T ha−1) and lowest (1.5 T ha−1) stover yield, the maximum (4.75) and minimum (4.02) number of branches plant−1, and the longest (118.7 cm) and shortest (85.15 cm) plant heights. The maximum seed (1.9 T ha−1) and stover output (2.0 T ha−1), tallest plant (140.9 cm), and most branches per plant−1 (5.47) were obtained when 4 kg of Zn ha−1 was given with 0.8 kg of B ha−1. However, while Zn and B were not applied, the lowest output for all of the crop attributes assessed was observed. As a result, for mustard, 4 kg of Zn ha−1 combined with 0.8 kg of B ha−1 may be advised as an effective approach in terms of seed yield and oil content.

Recently, Wi-Fi-based human activity recognition using channel state information (CSI) signals has gained popularity due to its potential features, such as passive sensing and adequate privacy. The movement of various body parts in between Wi-Fi signals’ propagation path generates changes in the signal reflections and refraction, which is evident from the CSI variations. In this paper, we analyze the relationship between human activities and properties (amplitude and phase) of Wi-Fi CSI signals on multiple receiving antennas and discover the signal properties that vary remarkably in response to human movement. The variation in the signal received among multiple antennas shows different sensitivity to human activities, directly affecting recognition performance. Therefore, to recognize human activities with better efficiency, we proposed an adaptive antenna elimination algorithm that automatically eliminates the non-sensitive antenna and keeps the sensitive antennas following different human activities. Furthermore, the correlation of the statistical features extracted from the amplitude and phase of the selected antennas’ CSI signal was analyzed, and a sequential forward selection was utilized to find the best subset of features. Using such a subset, three machine learning algorithms were employed on two available online datasets to classify various human activities. The experimental results revealed that even when using easy-to-implement, non-deep machine learning, such as random forest, the recognition system based on the proposed adaptive antenna elimination algorithm achieved a superior classification accuracy of 99.84% (line of sight) on the StanWiFi dataset and 97.65% (line-of-sight) / 93.33% (non-line-of-sight) on another widely applied multi-environmental dataset at a fraction of the time cost, demonstrating the robustness of the proposed algorithm.

Abstract 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.

Extended spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli (ESBL E. coli) is a primary concern for hospital and community healthcare settings, often linked to an increased incidence of nosocomial infections. This study investigated the characteristics of ESBL E. coli isolated from hospital environments and clinical samples. In total, 117 ESBL E. coli isolates were obtained. The isolates were subjected to molecular analysis for the presence of resistance and virulence genes, antibiotic susceptibility testing, quantitative adherence assay, ERIC-PCR for phylogenetic analysis and whole genome sequencing of four highly drug resistant isolates. Out of the 117 isolates, 68.4% were positive for blaCTX-M, 39.3% for blaTEM, 30.8% for blaNDM-1, 13.7% for blaOXA and 1.7% for blaSHV gene. Upon screening for diarrheagenic genes, no isolates were found to harbour any of the tested genes. In the case of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) virulence factors, 7.6%, 11%, 5.9%, 4.3% and 21.2% of isolates harbored the focG, kpsMII, sfaS, afa and iutA genes, respectively. At a temperature of 25°C, 14.5% of isolates exhibited strong biofilm formation with 21.4% and 28.2% exhibiting moderate and weak biofilm formation respectively, whereas 35.9% were non-biofilm formers. On the other hand at 37°C, 2.6% of isolates showed strong biofilm formation with 3.4% and 31.6% showing moderate and weak biofilm formation respectively, whereas, 62.4% were non-biofilm formers. Regarding antibiotic susceptibility testing, all isolates were found to be multidrug-resistant (MDR), with 30 isolates being highly drug resistant. ERIC-PCR resulted in 12 clusters, with cluster E−10 containing the maximum number of isolates. Hierarchical clustering and correlation analysis revealed associations between environmental and clinical isolates, indicating likely transmission and dissemination from the hospital environment to the patients. The whole genome sequencing of four highly drug resistant ExPEC isolates showed the presence of various antimicrobial resistance genes, virulence factors and mobile genetic elements, with isolates harbouring the plasmid incompatibility group IncF (FII, FIB, FIA). The sequenced isolates were identified as human pathogens with a 93.3% average score. This study suggests that ESBL producing E. coli are prevalent in the healthcare settings of Bangladesh, acting as a potential reservoir for AMR bacteria. This information may have a profound effect on treatment, and improvements in public healthcare policies are a necessity to combat the increased incidences of hospital-acquired infections in the country.

Background and Aim: The bovine industry is threatened by one of the most serious and deadly enteric diseases, calf diarrhea, particularly in developing nations like Bangladesh. In this context, bacterial resistance to antimicrobial drugs and its detrimental consequences have become a critical public health issue that is difficult to address globally. This study aimed to isolate and identify Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. with their antibiogram and antibiotic resistance gene detection from sulfonamide-treated diarrheic calves. Materials and Methods: Twelve diarrheic calves suffering from calf diarrhea in a dairy farm were selected and a total of 36 fecal samples were aseptically collected directly from rectum before, during, and at the end of treatment for each calf to determine the total viable count, total E. coli count and total Salmonella count. A polymerase chain reaction was used for the specific detection of E. coli and Salmonella genus targeting fliC and invA genes, respectively. Antibiotic sensitivity test of the isolated E. coli and Salmonella spp. were performed by the disk diffusion method for eight commonly used antibiotics. Results: A total of 36 E. coli (100%) and 12 Salmonella spp. (33%) were isolated from the samples and were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Total viable count was found to be ranged from 35 × 107 to 99 × 1010 colony-forming unit (CFU)/g fecal sample before starting sulfonamide treatment, 34 × 105 to 25 × 1010 CFU/g during treatment with sulfonamide, and 48 × 103 to 69 × 1010 CFU/g immediately after completion of sulfonamide treatment. Total E. coli count was found to be ranged from 4 × 104 to 36 × 1010 CFU/g, 24 × 104 to 23 × 108 CFU/g, and 13 × 104 to 85 × 1010 CFU/g, whereas total Salmonella count was found to be ranged from 16 × 106 to 18.5 × 1011 CFU/g, 15 × 104 to 44 × 107 CFU/g, and 13.2 × 105 to 21 × 1010 CFU/g fecal sample before starting sulfonamide treatment, during treatment with sulfonamide immediately after completion of sulfonamide treatment, respectively. The in vitro antibiotic sensitivity test showed that all the E. coli and Salmonella spp. isolated from diarrheic calves (100%) contained multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes. Escherichia coli isolates were found 100% resistant to amoxicillin (AMX), cefuroxime, cephalexin (CN), erythromycin (ERY), and tetracycline (TET); whereas 94.4%, 86.1%, and 77.8% isolates were resistant to doxycycline (DOX), moxifloxacin (MOF), and gentamycin (GEN), respectively. In case of Salmonella isolates, all were found 100% resistant to AMX, CN, and ERY; whereas 91.7% of resistance was observed for DOX, MOF, cefuroxime, GEN, and TET. Based on the molecular screening of the antibiotic resistance genes, tetA gene was present in 83.3% of the isolated E. coli and 75% of the isolated Salmonella strains, whereas 83.3% E. coli and 79.2% Salmonella isolates contained blaTEM gene. Conclusion: These findings suggest that MDR E. coli and Salmonella spp. might be responsible for calf scouring, which is challenging to treat with antibiotics or sulfonamide drugs alone. Therefore, it is important to check the antibiotic sensitivity pattern to select a suitable antibiotic for the treatment of calf scoring. A suitable antibiotic or combination of an antibiotic and sulfonamide could be effective against E. coli and Salmonella spp. responsible for calf scouring.

Boalia Khal is one of the important tributaries of the River Halda. The productivity of the Boalia Khal tributary of the Halda River mainly depends on the phytoplankton diversity. A study was conducted for two years period from January 2017 to December 2018 to identify the phytoplankton community of the Boalia Khal tributary. A total of 61 species of phytoplankton under 37 genera belonging to 8 classes were recorded. The dominant group of phytoplankton was 25 species of Diatoms (40.98 %) followed by 18 species of Green Algae (29.5 %), 9 species of Euglenophytes (14.75 %), 7 species of Blue Green Algae (11.48 %), and 2 species of Dinoflagellates (3.28 %). Therefore, the Boalia Khal is a productive ecosystem with a diverse group of phytoplankton species.

In this work, an optimized thermodynamic modelforthe secondary coolant loop of a VVER-1200 reactor-based nuclear power plant isdeveloped. The values of some of the thermo-physical parameters such as coolant flow rate, coolant inlet and outlet temperatures from the steam generator and the turbines, etc. are obtained from the available literature. On the other hand, the unknown plant parameters such as feedwater heater pressures are predicted using a Genetic Algorithm-based optimization process. Three crossover rates, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9, and three mutation rates, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1, are considered. Results reveal that the value of the optimization process of the thermodynamic model is not significantly affected by the change in the crossover rate or mutation rate. The optimized model is compared with two theoretical models, a model available in the literature and experimental data. Results reveal that the predicted values of the optimized model are more accurate compared to the other available options. The optimized model also predicts that the maximum overall efficiency and the maximum output power of a plant situated in tropical region should be around 35.87% and 1152.16MWe respectively for 28 °C tertiary coolant temperature, down by 3.94% from the rated values in cold weather. However, the power output at 35 °C tertiary coolant temperature is calculated to be 1117.88 MWe, almost 6.69% lower than the rated value for VVER-1200. Thus, the efficiency of the plant is highly sensitive to the weather variation of a region.

IntroductionStreptococci are the major etiology in mastitis in dairy cattle, a cause of huge economic losses in the dairy industries. This study was aimed to determine the diversity of Streptococcus spp. isolated from clinical mastitis of cattle reared in Bangladesh.MethodsA total of 843 lactating cattle reared in four prominent dairy farms and one dairy community were purposively included in this study where 80 cattle were positive to clinical mastitis (CM) based on gross changes in the udder (redness, swelling, and sensitive udder) and/or milk (flakes and/or clots). Milk samples were collected from all the eighty cattle with clinical mastitis (CCM) and twenty five apparently healthy cattle (AHC). Samples were enriched in Luria Bertani broth (LB) and one hundred microliter of the enrichment culture was spread onto selective media for the isolation of Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., Escherichia coli and Corynebacterium spp., the major pathogen associated with mastitis. Isolates recovered from culture were further confirmed by species specific PCR.Results and DiscussionOut of 105 samples examined 56.2% (59/105), 17.14% (18/105), 9.52% (10/105) and 22.9% (24/105) samples were positive for Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus faecalis and E. coli, respectively. This study was then directed to the determination of diversity of Streptococcus spp. through the sequencing of 16S rRNA. A total of eighteen of the samples from CCM (22.5%) but none from the AHC were positive for Streptococcus spp. by cultural and molecular examination. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA identified 55.6, 33.3, 5.6 and 5.6% of the Streptococcus isolates as Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus hyovaginalis and Streptococcus urinalis, respectively. Considering the high prevalence and worldwide increasing trend of S. uberis in mastitis, in-depth molecular characterization of S. uberis was performed through whole genome sequencing. Five of the S. uberis strain isolated in this study were subjected to WGS and on analysis two novel ST types of S. uberis were identified, indicating the presence of at least two different genotypes of S. uberis in the study areas. On virulence profiling, all the isolates harbored at least 35 virulence and putative virulence genes probably associated with intramammary infection (IMI) indicating all the S. uberis isolated in this study are potential mastitis pathogen. Overall findings suggest that Streptococcus encountered in bovine mastitis is diverse and S. uberis might be predominantly associated with CM in the study areas. The S. uberis genome carries an array of putative virulence factors that need to be investigated genotypically and phenotypically to identify a specific trait governing the virulence and fitness of this bacterium. Moreover, the genomic information could be used for the development of new genomic tools for virulence gene profiling of S. uberis.

Anthrax is a rapidly fatal infectious disease affecting herbivores and people. In the farm ani¬mals, cattle and sheep are more susceptible, followed by goats and horses, while dwarf pigs and Algerian sheep are relatively resistant. Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, produces spores and persists for decades in the soil, initiating an outbreak through a favorable climate shift. Anthrax is enzootic in many Asian and African countries, and is reported in Australia, some parts of Europe, and America. The clinical courses of this disease in animals are peracute, acute, sub¬acute, and chronic forms. In severely infected cases, the animals are dead without premonitory clinical signs. The blood may fail to clot and can be found in the mouth, nostrils, and anus in the animals that die from anthrax. This bacterium is susceptible to many antibiotics, yet only penicillin and oxytetracycline have the most effective under field conditions. When an outbreak occurs in a defined area, it is necessary to take early steps to break the infection cycle by maintaining strict biosecurity and vaccinating uninfected animals. This disease is still a challenge to farm animal production in many countries. This review intends to give a fair knowledge of the etiology, epi¬demiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and control of this disease. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(2.000): 323-334]

A key and ecologically sound strategy for integrated weed management is the use of varieties of weed-competitive crops. Utilizing wheat cultivars that are weed-competitive can lessen weed pressure and inordinate herbicide usage in wheat fields by a substantial amount. To assess the weed suppressibility of Bangladeshi wheat varieties, a field test was carried out in 2018 throughout the winter season at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh. Tests on a total of 18 selected Bangladeshi wheat cultivars were conducted in both “weedy” and “weed-free” environments. Additionally, weed monoculture plots (without wheat) were kept. The experiment was replicated three times using a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The results demonstrated that wheat varieties' weed interference and production capabilities differed greatly. BARI Gom 22 permitted the most weed growth (35 m−2), whereas BARI Gom 23 allowed the least (15 m−2) at 60 DAS among the wheat types under study. Grain yield ranged between 4.42 t ha−1 (BARI Gom 20) and 5.45 t ha−1 (BARI Gom 26) in weed-free settings, whereas it fluctuated from 2.48 t ha−1 (BARI Gom 21) to 3.93 t ha−1(BARI Gom 33) in weedy condition. The extent of the relative yield loss brought on by weeds ranged from 24 to 53%, with BARI Gom 33 suffering the least and Binagom-1 suffering the most. The weed competitive index varied from 0.48 to 1.47 for the examined wheat types. Among the cultivars, Binagom-1 had the lowest WCI and BARI Gom 29 had the highest. Although BARI Gom 33 was the best yielder in weedy condition and had the lowest relative yield loss, its interference against weed was moderate. Relative to the other varieties under consideration, comparatively BARI Gom 33 was the best in terms of yield and weed interference, but it is also advocated that breeders should continually focus on developing a variety that has both excellent producing potential and robust weed suppression.

Toxic element accumulation in the surrounding soils of the advanced industry- and agriculture-oriented areas may lead to severe environmental degradation and harmful impact on inhabitants. This work examined the concentration of some concerned toxic elements (Cr, Pb, Cd, Cu, As, and Ni) in the representative topsoil from 10 industrially contaminated sites in central Bangladesh (Narayanganj district) using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer concerning the probable ecological and human health risks. The mean concentrations (mg/kg) of the elements were found in the order of Ni (58.1 ± 11.8) > Pb (34.1 ± 14.3) > Cr (32.1 ± 6.77) > Cu (14.5 ± 3.30) > Cd (2.74 ± 1.08) > As (1.49 ± 0.43). The findings pointed out that diversified manmade events enhanced the intensities of elemental contamination through the studied sites. Source analysis showed that Cr, Pb, As, and Cd may originate from industrial wastewater and agricultural activities, whereas Cu and Ni came from natural sources. The geo-accumulation index level for Cd (1.70–3.39) was determined as grade 3 (moderately to strongly polluted), the enrichment factor score for Cd (13.9) fell in the very severe enhanced category (cluster 5), and the highest contamination factor value was found for Cd (15.7). The contamination degree values for all the tested elements signify a moderate to severe contamination grade; conversely, pollution load index levels depicted the nonexistence of elemental pollution. The assessment revealed serious Cd pollution in agricultural soils and moderate to significant potential ecological risk for the rest of the examined toxic elements. Furthermore, hazard index values exceeded the safe exposure levels, indicating that there was potential non-carcinogenic risk in the soils for children and adults. Ingestion exposure had much higher carcinogenic risk values than inhalation and cutaneous exposure, and children are exposed to considerable carcinogenic hazards. Therefore, it is suggested that the harmful practices that expose this farming soil to contaminants should be stopped immediately and effective environment-friendly techniques of waste management and effluent treatment should be employed in the study area.

Abstract This research presents the application of glycine amino acid for establishing firm cell‐substrate interaction instead of expensive adhesion proteins, peptides and peptide derivatives. The glycine amino acid is chemically functionalized on the coverslip to achieve self‐assembled nanostructure. Glycine self‐assembly on NaCl treated coverslips is initiated with SiONa+:COO− linkage while their nanostructure is achieved with formation of glycine chain through NH3+:COO− covalent linkage between the adjacent molecules. The functionalization steps are confirmed by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) investigation. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations reveal that glycine growth initiates at 4 Hours (H) post‐treatment while maximum growth appears after 8H‐10H. Both the vertical and horizontal growth of nanostructures show dependence on functionalization periods. Various levels of glycine functionalized surface show different levels of baby hamster kidney (BHK‐21) cell adhesion and proliferation efficiency with maximum performance for 10H functionalized surface. The adhesion and proliferation performance of 10H glycine functionalized surface shows negligible difference when compared with glycine‐aspartic acid (RGD) functionalized surface. Finally, growth curves obtained from both glycine and RGD functionalized surface reveal exponential growth phage up to 48H followed by stationary phage between 48H and 72H while death of many cells appears from 72H to 96H. Thus, this research concluded that glycine functionalized surface is equally effective for cell adhesion and proliferation.

The numerical approximation of eigenvalues of higher even order boundary value problems has sparked a lot of interest in recent years. However, it is always difficult to deal with higher-order BVPs because of the presence of boundary conditions. The objective of this work is to investigate a few higher order eigenvalue (Rayleigh numbers) problems utilizing the method of Galerkin weighted residual (MWR) and the effect of solution due to direct implementation of polynomial bases. The proposed method develops a precise matrix formulation for the eighth order eigenvalue and linear electro-hydrodynamic (EHD) stability problems. • The article explores the same for tenth and twelfth order eigenvalue problems. • This method involves computing numerical eigenvalues using Bernstein polynomials as the basis functions. • The novel weighted residual Galerkin technique's performance is numerically validated by comparing it to other numerical/analytical approaches in the literature.

Public support is one of the major challenges for maintaining a sustainable nuclear power program for any country. Although Bangladesh’s decision to build its maiden nuclear power plant (NPP) has received significant scholarly attention, the study regarding public perception is largely ignored. To fill this gap, this study investigated how Bangladeshis view the government’s decision to build NPPs. The study evaluated Bangladeshi youth’s knowledge, belief, and attitude toward the development of nuclear power. Applying the survey research technique, we found that 49% of the 450 respondents were positive toward NPPs, while 12% had no idea about NPPs. Women, in comparison to men, were found to have less knowledge of nuclear energy. Additionally, 41% of the respondents believed that the decision for establishing the country’s first NPP at Rooppur was right. However, 54% of the respondents expressed concerns over the safety, security, and sustainability of NPPs. Most importantly, a significant distrust among the respondents was observed in the capability of the regulator and operator for maintaining the NPP in a safe, secured, and sustainable manner. The study concludes that more policy actions are necessary to increase public support for nuclear power.

The objective this study was to assess the effect of gamma radiation and 2% potassium sorbate with low temperature (4 °C) for shrimp (Penaeus monodon) preservation. Fresh samples were prepared for treatment with gamma radiation at 1.0 and 1.5 kGy doses and potassium sorbate (2%) soaked for 30 s (PS 30 s) and 60 s (PS 60 s). Organoleptic score (OS), biochemical composition and microbiological analysis were performed to evaluate the shelf-life extension and quality changes during the storage periods. Data showed that combination treatment of gamma irradiation at 1.5 kGy with low temperature was the most effective in extending shelf-life of shrimp. The isolated bacteria associated with shrimp samples were identified through PCR technique. Antibiotic sensitivity test was examined using ten commonly used antibiotics against these pathogenic isolates. Gentamicin and Imipenem showed up to 50% resistance on Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus). This study indicates that gamma irradiation treatment with low temperature was most effective way for shelf-life extension of shrimp which might reduce the wastage of this important nutritional source.

Energy consumption and wastage are increasing proportionally with the growth of the industrial sector of Bangladesh. This study explores the energy consumption behavior of industrial staff in the light of sociodemographic and behavioral aspects using questionnaire sourced survey data. Based on the feedback of 827 employees from the 20 types of industries, behavioral constructs are formed using exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis. In addition, a descriptive statistical analysis and a logistic regression model are used to identify the impact of these constructs as well as sociodemographic variables on staff’s consumption behavior. Eight constructs were selected based on the different behavioral theories and energy culture model. They include personal consumption behavior, technology adoption norms, training and supervision, openness to change, technological ignorance, energy self-efficacy, engagement, and responsibility. Analysis of the data reveals that awareness building program through training is notably neglected in the industries of Bangladesh. Also, the staff do not differ in consumption behavior in regards to gender, level of education, age-group, and educational background. Adopting new technologies, increasing awareness through training, and improving responsibility can significantly ameliorate consumption behavior, whereas ignorance of technology adoption makes consumption behavior worse. This work can be considered as baseline data on the energy conservation pattern in the industrial sector of Bangladesh. The findings recommend developing policies, regulations, and guides to give equal importance to both energy efficiency and conservation programs for exploiting maximum energy saving opportunities.

Soymilk (SM) is nutritionally nearly equal to milk from cows and is free of cholesterol, gluten, and lactose. This study’s objective was to formulate a cholesterol-free soymilk dessert (SOD) and compare it’s to commercial desserts (CODs). Results indicated that the CODs contain substantial amounts of cholesterol while SOD does not. Soymilk dessert has more protein, and vitamin E than CODs, but less fat and calcium. In addition, the result also highlighted that SOD has higher number of amino acids compared to CODs. The total antioxidant, flavonoids and phenolics content of SOD were significantly higher than CODs. Furthermore, the in vitro antioxidant activity of SOD and CODs by DPPH and ABTS methods revealed that the IC50 of SODs significantly (p < 0.001) lower than CODs, and lower IC50 indicated the higher free radical scavenging power of SODs than CODs. These findings indicated that this non-dairy SOD may provide beneficial protein, as well as minerals, and antioxidants to support the body’s various physiological functions.

Abstract Hahn’s difference operator D q ; w f ( x ) = ( f ( q x + w ) − f ( x ) ) / ( ( q − 1 ) x + w ) $D_{q;w}f(x) =({f(qx+w)-f(x)})/({(q-1)x+w})$ , q ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) $q\in (0,1)$ , w > 0 $w>0$ , x ≠ w / ( 1 − q ) $x\neq w/(1-q)$ is used to unify the recently established difference and q-asymptotic iteration methods (DAIM, qAIM). The technique is applied to solve the second-order linear Hahn difference equations. The necessary and sufficient conditions for polynomial solutions are derived and examined for the ( q ; w ) $(q;w)$ -hypergeometric equation.

Purpose - The purpose of this study is observing the disclosure pattern of integrated reporting (IR) and investigating its relationship with a firm's operational, financial and market growth performance measured in the form of return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and market-to-book value ratio respectively in the voluntary disclosure regime of Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach - This research is quantitative, based on a pooled-OLS regression analysis of 20 firms listed under ten different nonfinancial industries of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) for three financial years from 2015–2016 to 2017–2018, with 60 firm-year observations. A manual content analysis based on a structured integrated reporting disclosure index (IRDIN) measures the extent of disclosure in the corporate annual reports. The practical model consists of the dependent variable IRDIN and the independent variables ROA, ROE and market-to-book value ratio. The natural logarithm of total assets and financial leverage are the two controlling variables used in the model. Findings - The findings deduced from the empirical results indicate that the IRDIN is positively and significantly related to all three performance variables. Content analysis shows an increasing pattern of disclosure of the constructed index elements by the sample firms. Research limitations/implications - A Small sample size may deter the generalization of the research findings in other voluntary disclosure regimes. Self-constructed IRDIN index scores may be affected by subjective judgment while assessing the annual reports. Practical implications - Capital market regulators can gain valuable insights regarding the suitability of implementing IR in Bangladesh as the results show a positive relationship of firm performance with the adoption of this revolutionary paradigm in corporate reporting. Originality/value - This study adds value to the existing limited literature of IR disclosure and firm performance in Bangladesh by incorporating content analysis and regression analysis to understand how firms respond to the demand of value creation by the stakeholders in a voluntary disclosure regime. This study captures sample firms from all the nonfinancial industries of Bangladesh with a unique IR index, which is the first of its kind.

Objective: Natural substances found in dietary sources and medicinal plants have attracted con¬siderable attention in recent years as chemopreventive agents. Spirulina is a blue-green alga that possesses chemopreventive properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of spirulina on rats with inorganic arsenic (As) [sodium arsenite (NaAsO2)]-induced lipid peroxidation. Materials and Methods: 120 rats were randomly assigned to 10 groups and designated T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, and T9. One group was kept as a control (T0) that received no treatment. The seven groups received 3.0 mg of NaAsO2/kg body weight in drinking water and were given spirulina ad libitum. T1 was treated with NaAsO2 but not with spirulina. Two groups of rats (T2 and T3), on the other hand, were treated with spirulina without receiving any As (NaAsO2). T2 received agro-based spirulina (Ab-Sp; grown in 1.5% soybean meal media and harvested on day 12 of seed inoculation) at 2.0 gm/kg feed, whereas T3 received commercially available spirulina (Com-Sp) at 2.0 gm/kg feed. T4, T5, and T6 were concurrently treated with Ab-Sp at 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 gm/ kg of feed. On the other hand, T7, T8, and T9 induced by NaAsO2 were concurrently treated with Com-Sp at 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 gm/kg feed. All groups received treatment for 90 days. Results: The efficacy of both spirulina in preventing lipid peroxidation caused by As was deter¬mined quantitatively by measuring the rats serum malondialdehyde (MDA). The results indicated that As supplementation increased serum MDA levels, whereas both types of spirulina signifi¬cantly decreased them. The highest dose of Ab-Sp (2.0 gm/kg feed) was found to be the most effective in preventing lipid peroxidation in rats treated with inorganic As. Conclusion: Ab-Sp could be a natural, cost-effective, and safe measure to mitigate As toxicity. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(2.000): 330-338]

Bangladesh, as a newcomer country, is expecting to start her nuclear power journey by 2022. Due to evident reasons, newcomer nuclear countries face several key challenges concerning the development of national nuclear safety infrastructure. The paper investigates the status of the 7 key safety infrastructure issues out of the 19 and readiness of the supportive organizations, laboratories, and workforces following the International Atomic energy Agency’s status evaluation guide at milestone 3 and foreign countries’ practice. Much progress has been achieved at phase 3 regarding the establishments of a few Acts, a regulator, and an operator. However, comprehensive regulatory frameworks, skilled workforces, establishments of a few supportive organizations, and laboratories for managing environmental radioactivity, radiological accidents, and radioactive wastes are yet to ready. Several suggestions are made for establishing and expediting radiation monitoring laboratories, a radiological emergency management center, a radioactive waste management company, and technical support organizations for the safety infrastructure. To avoid perceived risks, policymakers and competent authorities need to emphasize creating an optimized safety infrastructure before commissioning and operating the 1stnuclear power plant safely, securely, and cost-sustainably.