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Tο meet the growing food demand of Bangladesh requires efficiently use of inputs and effectively manage of production practices at the farm level. Thus, the present study aims to measure the technical efficiency and establish core factors affecting Boro and Ajnan rice production in Bangladesh. The study employed mainly farm level data collected from 80 farm households selected randomly in Dinajpur district. Translog Stochastic Frontier Production function approach used to estimate arm specific technical efficiency of the farmers. Evidence revealed that, overall production efficiency of Boro and Aman rice production were 83.25, and 85.15 percent, respectively which implies that there is still room to further improve technical efficiency given the same level of inputs and technology. Furthermore, the level of output of Boro and Aman rice production varied according to area cultivated, employed human labor, irrigation management, fertilizer and manure application. On the other hand, farmer's education, access to microcredit, training and extension facilities were the important factors influencing the level of inefficiency according to technical inefficiency effect model. In conclusion, the sustainability of the high efficiency will dependent on the continuous support of supply and proper use of inputs in the study areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA modifications play an important role in actively controlling recently created formation in cellular regulation mechanisms, which link them to gene expression and protein. The RNA modifications have numerous alterations, presenting broad glimpses of RNA's operations and character. The modification process by the TET enzyme oxidation is the crucial change associated with cytosine hydroxymethylation. The effect of CR is an alteration in specific biochemical ways of the organism, such as gene expression and epigenetic alterations. Traditional laboratory systems that identify 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) samples are expensive and time-consuming compared to other methods. To address this challenge, the paper proposed XGB5hmC, a machine learning algorithm based on a robust gradient boosting algorithm (XGBoost), with different residue based formulation methods to identify 5hmC samples. Their results were amalgamated, and six different frequency residue based encoding features were fused to form a hybrid vector in order to enhance model discrimination capabilities. In addition, the proposed model incorporates SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations) based feature selection to demonstrate model interpretability by highlighting the high contributory features. Among the applied machine learning algorithms, the XGBoost ensemble model using the tenfold cross-validation test achieved improved results than existing state-of-the-art models. Our model reported an accuracy of 89.97%, sensitivity of 87.78%, specificity of 94.45%, F1-score of 0.8934%, and MCC of 0.8764%. This study highlights the potential to provide valuable insights for enhancing medical assessment and treatment protocols, representing a significant advancement in RNA modification analysis., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The gig economy (temporary, contract, and freelance online jobs rather than permanent positions) is a component of the fourth industrial revolution and preview of future work. The rise of digital platforms has increased career opportunities and income potential, particularly for women. Yet, the sex-disaggregated evidence regarding platform usage, employment characteristics, and working motivations and satisfaction remains untapped. Using data from a quantitative survey of Bangladeshi gig workers (242 men and 201 women) conducted in 2022, this paper addresses these gaps between male and female workers. The gig economy appears to be gender-segregated across digital platform usages and working categories. Women tend to prioritize digital work options for managing multiple responsibilities, while men are often driven by the potential for higher income. This study conceptually utilized the two-factor theory and empirically ordered a probit model to identify gender differences in job satisfaction. Job satisfaction was significantly increased by work-life balance, monthly income, and social-media connection, while an increase in working hours, complexity in payment systems, and unstable networks all led to a decrease in job satisfaction. The findings have implications for the future growth of the gig economy, provide new insights into gender differences in job satisfaction, and underscore the need for gender-sensitive policies in the online labor market., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Abdominal aortic aneurysm remains mostly asymptomatic. It is usually detected incidentally with imaging studies. Here we present a 55 years old hypertensive, non smoker, non diabetic, male patient who was diagnosed as a case of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. He was treated by endovascular means using endograft without laparatomy. Endografts were deployed through bilateral femoral artery cut down technique under general anesthesia. Completion angiogram following this endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) technique revealed good technical success with no endoleak. This hybrid procedure was performed in a cathlab having surgical instruments in hand. Three years after the procedure, patient is doing well.

The use of quality seeds is crucial to improve rice yield, food security, and farmers' livelihoods. The large informal seed system, limited access to quality seeds, and low seed replacement rate challenge increasing rice yield. Despite robust government initiatives to support the seed system, progress has been slow. Besides, the need for farmers' behavioural change, enhanced coordination, and communication at the local level has not received adequate attention. We investigate rice farmers' preferences for quality seed, packet sizes, types, and sources, and assess the impact of utilizing good quality seed. We collected quantitative data from 1196 rice farmers in northern Bangladesh in 2019. To identify major factors influencing farmers' preferences regarding quality seed, packet sizes, packet types, and seed sources, we employed ordered logit and multinomial logit models. Additionally, we used the propensity score matching procedure to assess the impact of good quality and formal seed sources on the rice yield. The findings revealed that farmers strongly prefer using seeds from formal sources despite limited accessibility. Of the total farmers, 34% use public source seeds, 33% use private source seeds, and the rest rely on their own saved seeds. The use of good quality seeds increased rice yields from the base yield by 0.07-0.28 t/ha. We found about a 48% gap in accessing good-quality seeds, indicating significant potential for scaling up the seed systems. Farmers using formal seed sources yielded 0.03-0.15 t/ha more than informal seed users. Farmers strongly prefer 5 kg packets due to their cost-effectiveness, easy storage, and handling convenience. Additionally, farmers prefer polycoated jute sacks for their versatility, multi-purpose applications, and resistance to pests. The econometric model results showed that farmers' preferences were significantly influenced by gender, farm type, crop yield, seed price, market distance, various stakeholders' advice, and seed supply systems' constraints. The government should implement policies and programs to strengthen a well-connected seed network in rural areas, promoting inclusivity, and enhancing rice productivity. Besides, farmers' needs and preferences should be considered in designing and implementing seed-related initiatives to foster sustainable agricultural development., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Sarkar 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.)

Objective: Increasing placental thickness is associated with adverse outcomes including earlier gestational age at delivery, lower birthweight, and lower umbilical artery pH. We aim to determine whether mid-trimester placenta previa thickness is associated with persistence of previa at time of delivery., Study Design: Single-center retrospective cohort study of singleton gestations with previa diagnosed at 18-24 weeks delivering between 2015 and 2019. The thickest portion of the placenta was measured in a longitudinal plane on transabdominal imaging to determine placental thickness. We defined three cohorts: 1) thick placenta (>1 standard deviation above the mean), 2) thin placenta (>1 standard deviation below the mean), and 3) average placenta (within 1 standard deviation above or below the mean). Primary outcome was previa persistence at time of delivery. Secondary outcomes included postpartum hemorrhage, cesarean delivery, placenta accreta spectrum, and maternal morbidity composite (use of Bakri balloon, B-lynch, or O'Leary, peripartum hysterectomy, blood transfusion, ICU admission, or death). In all analyses, average thickness was used as the base comparator., Results: Of 239 pregnancies with mid-trimester previa there were 34 thin, 166 average, and 39 thick placentas. Patients with thick placenta were older, more likely to have prior cesarean delivery, fibroid uterus, and delivery at an earlier gestational age. After adjusting for confounders, thick placenta was associated with persistent previa (aOR 6.85 [3.13-15.00]) and cesarean delivery (aOR 2.76 [1.26-6.08])., Conclusion: At diagnosis of mid-trimester previa, thick placenta is associated with persistence at time of delivery and delivery by cesarean section. This suggests placental thickness may assist with risk stratification and coordination of care., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose of Review: Rates of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) throughout the world continue to increase associated with the increasing rates of obesity. Given this epidemiologic burden, the importance of proper screening, diagnosis, and management cannot be understated. This review focuses on the current screening guidelines utilized throughout the world and new data recently published regarding the most optimal screening techniques and future directions for research., Recent Findings: Despite unanimous opinion that GDM warrants screening, the optimal screening regimen remains controversial. Notably, in the United States per the consensus recommendation by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, a 2-step screening approach is often used. Recently, there have been multiple studies published that have compared the 1-step and 2-step screening process with respect to GDM incidence and perinatal outcomes. These new findings are summarized below., Summary: Utilization of the 1-step screening as opposed to the 2-step screening results in an increased diagnosis of GDM without significant population level benefit in outcomes. However, these studies remain underpowered to allow for meaningful comparison of outcomes in those diagnosed with GDM., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective:  Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including intrauterine fetal demise, spontaneous preterm labor, and meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Studies have yet to determine if patients with a history of pregnancy complicated by cholestasis had an association with more severe adverse outcomes in a subsequent pregnancy complicated by cholestasis., Study Design:  Retrospective cohort study of multiparous, singleton, nonanomalous live gestations complicated by cholestasis at Elmhurst Hospital Center from 2005 to 2019. We compared rates of adverse outcomes in multiparous pregnancies complicated by cholestasis with versus without prior cholestasis. Our primary outcome was rates of spontaneous preterm labor. Our secondary outcomes included rates of iatrogenic preterm birth, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, cesarean delivery for nonreassuring fetal heart tracing. Chi-square and multivariate regression tests were used to determine the strength of association. In all analyses, a p -value less than 0.05 and 95% confidence interval not crossing 1.00 indicated statistical significance. Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for this project., Results:  Of the 795 multiparous pregnancies complicated by cholestasis, 618 (77.7%) had no prior history of cholestasis and 177 (23.3%) had prior history of cholestasis. Multiparous pregnancies with history of cholestasis had higher rates of prior preterm birth, earlier gestational age at diagnosis and delivery, and were more likely to receive ursodeoxycholic acid therapy. Pregnancies with history of cholestasis were not associated with spontaneous preterm labor in subsequent pregnancies with cholestasis, but history of cholestasis was associated with iatrogenic preterm birth and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. After adjusting for confounders, the association with iatrogenic preterm birth and NICU admission were no longer statistically significant. There was no significant association between history of cholestasis and other adverse obstetric outcomes., Conclusion:  Findings suggests that history of prior cholestasis is not associated with worsening outcomes in subsequent pregnancies complicated by cholestasis., Key Points: · Prior cholestasis may not alter risk in subsequent pregnancies.. · Unclear relationship between cholestasis and hepatobiliary disease.. · Studies needed to develop cholestasis screening protocol.., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Technological advancements have long played crucial roles in rice productivity and food security in Bangladesh. Seasonal variation over time and regional differences in rice production, however, pose a threat to agricultural sustainability but remain unexplored. We performed a spatial-temporal mapping of rice cultivation area, production, and yield from 2006-2007 to 2019-2020 using secondary data for disaggregating 64 districts in Bangladesh. Growth and multivariate approaches were employed to analyze time-series data. Results showed that Mymensingh had the highest rice cultivated area and production, while Bandarban had the lowest. The 14 years highest average rice yield was found in Gopalganj and Dhaka (3.63 tons/ha), while Patuakhali (1.73 tons/ha) had the lowest. For the Aus, Aman, and Boro, the rice cultivation area in 19 districts, 11 districts, and 13 districts declined significantly. The overall rice production increased significantly in most districts. For the Aus, Aman, and Boro seasons, the rice yield in 54, 50, and 37 districts demonstrated a significant upward trend, respectively. The adoption rate of modern varieties has risen dramatically. However, there are notable variances between regions and seasons. A significant increasing trend in Aus (0.007% to 0.521%), Aman (0.004% to 0.039%), and Boro (0.013% to 0.584%) were observed in 28, 34, and 36 districts, respectively, with an increase of 1% adaptation of HYV. Predictions revealed that rice cultivation area and production of Aus, Aman, and Boro seasons will be increased in most of the regions of Bangladesh by 2030. Based on spatiotemporal cluster analysis, the five identified cluster groupings illustrated that clusters lack spatial cohesion and vary greatly seasonally. This suggests increasing rice production by expanding cultivable land, adopting high-yielding varieties, and integrating faster technological advancement in research and extension. The findings will assist scientists in developing region-specific production technologies and policymakers in designing decentral region-specific policies to ensure the future sustainability of rice production., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Al Mamun 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.)

Micro-energy harvesting (MEH) is a technology of renewable power generation which is a key technology for hosting the future low-powered electronic devices for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and, the Internet of Things (IoT). Recent technological advancements have given rise to several resources and technologies that are boosting particular facets of society. Many researchers are now interested in studying MEH systems for ultra-low power IoT sensors and WSNs. A comprehensive study of IoT will help to manage a single MEH as a power source for multiple WSNs. The popular database from Scopus was used in this study to perform a review analysis of the MEH system for ultra-low power IoT sensors. All relevant and important literature studies published in this field were statistically analysed using a review analysis method by VOSviewer software, and research gaps, challenges and recommendations of this field were investigated. The findings of the study indicate that there has been an increasing number of literature studies published on the subject of MEH systems for IoT platforms throughout time, particularly from 2013 to 2023. The results demonstrate that 67% of manuscripts highlight problem-solving, modelling and technical overview, simulation, experimental setup and prototype. In observation, 27% of papers are based on bibliometric analysis, systematic review, survey, review and based on case study, and 2% of conference manuscripts are based on modelling, simulation, and review analysis. The top-cited articles are published in 5 different countries and 9 publishers including IEEE 51%, Elsevier 16%, MDPI 10% and others. In addition, several MEH system-related problems and challenges are noted to identify current limitations and research gaps, including technical, modelling, economic, power quality, and environmental concerns. Also, the study offers guidelines and recommendations for the improvement of future MEH technology to increase its energy efficiency, topologies, design, operational performance, and capabilities. This study's detailed information, perceptive analysis, and critical argument are expected to improve MEH research's viable future., 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., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

In this study, we investigated the spore germination phenotype of Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from diarrheic animals (animal strains). The transcripts of germination-specific genes and their protein products were also measured. Our study found the following results: (i) animal strains spores germinated at a slower rate with AK (mixture of L-asparagine and KCl), L-cysteine, or L-lysine, but the extent of germination varied based on strains and germinants used; (ii) none of the amino acids (excluding L-cysteine and L-lysine) were identified as a universal germinant for spores of animal strains; (iii) animal strain spores germinated better at a pH range of 6.0-7.0; (iv) all tested germination-specific genes were expressed in animal strains; the levels of expression of major germinant receptor gene ( gerKC ) were higher and the cortex hydrolysis machinery genes ( cspB and sleC ) were lower in animal strains, compared to the food poisoning strain SM101; and (v) the levels of CspB and SleC were significantly lower in spores of animal strains compared to strain SM101, suggesting that these animal strains lack an efficient spore cortex hydrolysis machinery. In summary, our findings suggest that the poor or slow spore germination in C. perfringens animal strains might be due to incomplete spore cortex hydrolysis.

Droughts pose a severe environmental risk in countries that rely heavily on agriculture, resulting in heightened levels of concern regarding food security and livelihood enhancement. Bangladesh is highly susceptible to environmental hazards, with droughts further exacerbating the precarious situation for its 170 million inhabitants. Therefore, we are endeavouring to highlight the identification of the relative importance of climatic attributes and the estimation of the seasonal intensity and frequency of droughts in Bangladesh. With a period of forty years (1981-2020) of weather data, sophisticated machine learning (ML) methods were employed to classify 35 agroclimatic regions into dry or wet conditions using nine weather parameters, as determined by the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). Out of 24 ML algorithms, the four best ML methods, ranger, bagEarth, support vector machine, and random forest (RF) have been identified for the prediction of multi-scale drought indices. The RF classifier and the Boruta algorithms shows that water balance, precipitation, maximum and minimum temperature have a higher influence on drought intensity and occurrence across Bangladesh. The trend of spatio-temporal analysis indicates, drought intensity has decreased over time, but return time has increased. There was significant variation in changing the spatial nature of drought intensity. Spatially, the drought intensity shifted from the northern to central and southern zones of Bangladesh, which had an adverse impact on crop production and the livelihood of rural and urban households. So, this precise study has important implications for the understanding of drought prediction and how to best mitigate its impacts. Additionally, the study emphasizes the need for better collaboration between relevant stakeholders, such as policymakers, researchers, communities, and local actors, to develop effective adaptation strategies and increase monitoring of weather conditions for the meticulous management of droughts in Bangladesh., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Cytokines are a protein family comprising interleukins, lymphokines, chemokines, monokines and interferons. They are significant constituents of the immune system, and they act in accordance with specific cytokine inhibiting compounds and receptors for the regulation of immune responses. Cytokine studies have resulted in the establishment of newer therapies which are being utilized for the treatment of several malignant diseases. The advancement of these therapies has occurred from two distinct strategies. The first strategy involves administrating the recombinant and purified cytokines, and the second strategy involves administrating the therapeutics which inhibits harmful effects of endogenous and overexpressed cytokines. Colony stimulating factors and interferons are two exemplary therapeutics of cytokines. An important effect of cytokine receptor antagonist is that they can serve as anti-inflammatory agents by altering the treatments of inflammation disorder, therefore inhibiting the effects of tumour necrosis factor. In this article, we have highlighted the research behind the establishment of cytokines as therapeutics and vaccine adjuvants, their role of immunotolerance, and their limitations., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest 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., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Nanomaterials (NMs) with structural, optical, and dielectric properties are called functional or smart materials and have favorable applications in various fields of material science and nanotechnology. Pure and Co-doped MgAl 2 O 4 were synthesized by using the sol-gel combustion method. A systematic investigation was carried out to understand the effects of the Co concentration on the crystalline phase, morphology, and optical and dielectric properties of Co-doped MgAl 2 O 4 . X-ray diffraction confirmed the cubic spinel structure with the Fd 3̅ m space group, and there was no impurity phase, while the surface morphology of the samples was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The dielectric properties of the synthesized material are investigated using an LCR meter with respect to the variation in frequency (1-2 GHz), and their elemental composition has been examined through the energy-dispersive X-ray technique. The existence of the metal-oxygen Mg-Al-O bond has been confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The value of the dielectric constant decreases with the increasing frequency and Co concentration. The optical behaviors of the Co 2+ -doped MgAl 2 O 4 reveal that the optical properties were enhanced by increasing the cobalt concentration, which ultimately led to a narrower band gap, which make them exquisite and suitable for energy storage applications, especially for super capacitors. This work aims to focus on the effect of cobalt ions in different concentrations on structural, optical, and dielectric properties., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte imbalance seen in clinical practice and a common laboratory findings in children with community acquired pneumonia. This study aimed to find out relationship between clinical profile, severity and outcome of community acquired pneumonia with hyponatremia in children aged 2-60 months. This descriptive cross-sectional study was done in pediatrics department of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. Study period was 6 month from November 2016 to April 2017. Data were collected from 2 months to 60 months old children who fulfill the selection criteria. In this study sampling technique was purposive. Detailed history was taken, and meticulous examinations and relevant investigations were performed. 100 patients with community acquired pneumonia were enrolled, 34.0% patient had hyponatremia and 66.0% patients had no hyponatremia. Hyponatremia is more marked (45.5%) in severe pneumonia followed by moderate pneumonia (33.3%) and no hyponatremia found in mild pneumonia. Mean temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, head nodding, nasal flaring, grunting, stridor, cyanosis, convulsion, feeding problem, Poor air entry were significantly higher in patient of pneumonia with hyponatremia when compared to patient of pneumonia without hyponatremia. Mean duration of symptoms and mean duration of hospital stay were also significantly higher in patient of pneumonia with hyponatremia. The mean serum sodium concentration was 132.18±1.51mmol/L in hyponatremic patients and 137.91±1.94mmol/L in normonatremic patients. Mean values of total leucocyte count, ESR, and C-reactive protein were significantly higher in patient of pneumonia with hyponatremia. Serum hemoglobin was significantly lower in hyponatremic patients than normonatremic patients. Maximum (55.9%) patients of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) with hyponatremia had patchy opacity, 26.5% had consolidation, 11.8% had interstitial opacity and 5.9% had pneumatocele. All the patients were treated with appropriate antibiotics and fluid and discharged after complete recovery without any complication. There was no death in the study population. From this study we can conclude that, hyponatremia is directly related with the severity of community acquired pneumonia (CAP). The intensity of clinical profile and investigation findings are also directly related with the severity of pneumonia.

High blood pressure and its related problems are progressively assuming public health dimensions in developing countries like Bangladesh. There was a suggestion that hypertensive process can be aborted in its early stages. But it is poorly understood in its early stages. So, early natural history of hypertension and its evolution from the youth needs to be investigated. Objective of this study was to determine blood pressure distribution in school children aged 6-15 years. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh from November 2014 to October 2015. The sample was collected by simple random sampling from five different schools of Mymensingh after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. After taking proper history and doing relevant examination, both systolic and diastolic BP was recorded by auscultatory method. Out of 994 children, 480(48.29%) were boys and 514(51.71%) were girls. In boys, the mean±SD of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) were 105.9±10.8 mm of Hg and 67.4±6.7 mm of Hg and in girls it was 106.1±11.8 and 67.5±6.9 mm of Hg respectively. Systolic BP was found higher in girls belongs to 10-13 years. The study has shown that BP rises linearly with age and both systolic and diastolic BP has a significant positive correlation with age, sex, height and BMI in both sexes. This study also showed, 46(4.6%) children were hypertensive and 89(8.9%) were pre-hypertensive. Hypertension was found more in girls but there was no significant difference between two sexes. Hypertension was found more in relation to overweight, obesity and family history of hypertension. Hypertension is not uncommon in children. Routine blood pressure measurement should be conducted in all children.

The low-temperature sintering of (Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 )TiO 3 -based ceramics can be achieved by sintering aid CuO. Piezoelectric ceramics (1 - x )[0.90(Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 )TiO 3 - 0.10SrTiO 3 ] - x CuO (BNT-ST-Cu) with x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04 were prepared through the mixed oxide route. A tetragonal structure was indexed for the undoped sample. Its structure was found to be changed to a pseudocubic when Cu was added. For undoped Cu samples, the sintering temperature ( T s ) for sufficient densification was 1160 °C. However, T s was reduced to 1090-1120 °C for Cu-added specimens. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) showed a uniform and dense grain morphology for all samples. The maximum dielectric constant temperature ( T m ) was decreased with the doping concentration of Cu and applied frequency. The strain was increased with Cu concentration and had the maximum value of 500 pm/V for the sample x = 0.02 with symmetric and slim strain loops., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Spore germination plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of Clostridium perfringens -associated food poisoning. Germination is initiated when bacterial spores sense various stimuli, including chemicals and enzymes. A previous study showed that dipicolinic acid (DPA) chelated with calcium (Ca-DPA) significantly stimulated spore germination in C. perfringens . However, whether Ca 2+ or DPA alone can induce germination is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the possible roles of Ca 2+ and other divalent cations present in the spore core, such as Mn 2+ and Mg 2+ , in C. perfringens spore germination. Our study demonstrated that (i) Ca-DPA, but not DPA alone, induced C. perfringens spore germination, suggesting that Ca 2+ might play a signaling role; (ii) all tested calcium salts induced spore germination, indicating that Ca 2+ is critical for germination; (iii) the spore-specific divalent cations Mn 2+ and Mg 2+ , but not Zn 2+ , induced spore germination, suggesting that spore core-specific divalent cations are involved in C. perfringens spore germination; and (iv) endogenous Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ are not required for induction of C. perfringens spore germination, whereas exogenous and partly endogenous Mn 2+ are required. Collectively, our results suggest that exogenous spore core-specific divalent cation signals are more important than endogenous signals for the induction of spore germination.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected women and threatens to overturn four decades of progress in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment. To better grasp the key areas of concern that gender inequality exists, gender studies and sex-disaggregated evidence are required. Using the PRISMA technique, this review paper is the first attempt to present a comprehensive and current picture of the gendered dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh regarding economic well-being, resource endowments, and agency. This study found that women were more likely to face hardship as widows, mothers, or sole breadwinners after the loss of husbands and male household members because of the pandemic. The evidence suggests that the advancement of women during this pandemic was hampered by poor reproductive health outcomes; girls' dropping out of school; job loss; less income; a comparable wage gap; a lack of social security; unpaid work burnout; increased emotional, physical, and sexual abuse; an increase in child marriages; and less participation in leadership and decision-making. Our study found inadequate sex-disaggregated data and gender studies on COVID-19 in Bangladesh. However, our research concludes that policies must account for gender disparities and male and female vulnerability across multiple dimensions to achieve inclusive and effective pandemic prevention and recovery., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors.)

The appropriate combination of semiconducting polymer-inorganic nanocomposites can enhance the existing performance of polymers-only-based photovoltaic devices. Hence, polyaniline (PANI)/zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposites were prepared by combining ZnO nanoparticles with PANI in four distinct ratios to optimize their photovoltaic performance. Using a simple coating method, PANI, ZnO, and its nanocomposite, with varying weight percent (wt%) concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles, i.e., (1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, and 4 wt%), were fabricated and utilized as an active layer to evaluate the potential for the high-power conversion efficiency of various concentrations, respectively. PANI/ZnO nanocomposites are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and I-V measurement techniques. The XRD analysis showed a distinct, narrow peak, which corresponds to the wurtzite ZnO (101) plane. The SEM analysis verified the production of the PANI/ZnO composite by demonstrating that the crystalline ZnO was integrated into the PANI matrix. The elemental composition was determined by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), which confirmed the existence of PANI and ZnO without any impurities, respectively. Using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, various chemical bonds and stretching vibrations were analyzed and assigned to different peaks. The bandgap narrowing with an increasing PANI/ZnO composition led to exceptional optical improvement. The I-V characterization was utilized to investigate the impact of the nanocomposite on the electrical properties of the PANI/ZnO, and various concentrations of ZnO (1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, and 4 wt%) in the PANI matrix were analyzed under both light and dark conditions at an STC of 1.5 AM globally. A high PCE of 4.48% was achieved for the PANI/ZnO (3 wt%), which revealed that the conductivity of the PANI/ZnO nanocomposite thin films improved with the increasing nanocomposite concentration.

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) represents a heterogenous group of glomerular disorders occurring mainly in children. Accumulated data suggest that patient with NS have an immunological basis. This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), Mymensingh during the period of March 2018 to October 2019 to determine the relationship of serum IgE level in frequent relapse and infrequent relapse nephrotic syndrome in children. Thirty cases of frequent relapse and 30 cases of infrequent relapse idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who were admitted in Department of Paediatrics, MMCH were included in this study by purposive sampling technique. After admission written informed consent from parents or guardians obtained. Serum IgE level was measured in all patients of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome during relapse and again four weeks after steroid therapy when patient was in remission. Serum total IgE levels were measured by ADVIA centaur CP immunoassay system. Most of the patient's age was within 2-6 years in both groups. Male children were predominant in both groups. Most of the patients came from rural area. Frequency of relapse per year was significantly higher and 24 hours urine output was significantly lower in frequent relapse nephrotic syndrome than that of infrequent relapse nephrotic syndrome. Significantly higher mean IgE was found in children with frequent relapse nephrotic syndrome (1439.8±388.5 IU/ml during relapse and 852.3±103.7 IU/ml at remission) than infrequent relapse nephrotic syndrome (1109.5±248.3 IU/ml during relapse and 776.6±108.5 IU/ml at remission) at both relapse and remission state. A linear, positive, significant correlation was found between rate of relapse and serum IgE level (Pearson correlation coefficient, r=0.674). Based on results it is concluded that serum IgE is high in relapsing nephrotic syndrome and it is persistently and significantly higher in frequent relapse nephrotic syndrome than infrequent relapse nephrotic syndrome.

Bacterial sporulation and spore germination are two intriguing processes that involve the expression of many genes coherently. Phylogenetic analyses revealed gene conservation among spore-forming Firmicutes, especially in Bacilli and Clostridia. In this study, by homology search, we found Bacillus subtilis sporulation gene homologs of bkdR , ylmC , ylxY , ylzA , ytaF , ytxC , yyaC1 , and yyaC2 in Clostridium perfringenes food-poisoning Type F strain SM101. The β-glucuronidase reporter assay revealed that promoters of six out of eight tested genes (i.e., bkdR , ylmC , ytaF , ytxC , yyaC1 , and yyaC2 ) were expressed only during sporulation, but not vegetative growth, suggesting that these genes are sporulation-specific. Gene knock-out studies demonstrated that C. perfringens Δ bkdR , Δ ylmC , Δ ytxC , and Δ yyaC1 mutant strains produced a significantly lower number of spores compared to the wild-type strain. When the spores of these six mutant strains were examined for their germination abilities in presence of known germinants, an almost wild-type level germination was observed with spores of Δ ytaF or Δ yyaC1 mutants; and a slightly lower level with spores of Δ bkdR or Δ ylmC mutants. In contrast, almost no germination was observed with spores of Δ ytxC or Δ yyaC2 mutants. Consistent with germination defects, Δ ytxC or Δ yyaC2 spores were also defective in spore outgrowth and colony formation. The germination, outgrowth, and colony formation defects of Δ ytxC or Δ yyaC2 spores were restored when Δ ytxC or Δ yyaC2 mutant was complemented with wild-type ytxC or yyaC2 , respectively. Collectively, our current study identified new sporulation and germination genes in C. perfringens .

The scientific interest in piezoelectric micro-energy harvesting (PMEH) has been fast-growing, demonstrating that the field has made a major improvement in the long-term evolution of alternative energy sources. Although various research works have been performed and published over the years, only a few attempts have been made to examine the research's influence in this field. Therefore, this paper presents a bibliometric study into low-cost PMEH from ambient energy sources within the years 2010-2021, outlining current research trends, analytical assessment, novel insights, impacts, challenges and recommendations. The major goal of this paper is to provide a bibliometric evaluation that is based on the top-cited 100 articles employing the Scopus databases, information and refined keyword searches. This study analyses various key aspects, including PMEH emerging applications, authors' contributions, collaboration, research classification, keywords analysis, country's networks and state-of-the-art research areas. Moreover, several issues and concerns regarding PMEH are identified to determine the existing constraints and research gaps, such as technical, modeling, economics, power quality and environment. The paper also provides guidelines and suggestions for the development and enhancement of future PMEH towards improving energy efficiency, topologies, design, operational performance and capabilities. The in-depth information, critical discussion and analysis of this bibliometric study are expected to contribute to the advancement of the sustainable pathway for PMEH research.

A four-level double lambda closed atomic configuration is considered to study the polarization plane rotation of the probe beam through cold as well as thermal Rb[Formula: see text] atomic medium by varying the spontaneously generated coherence (SGC). Magnetic field and strong coupling field are applied to the atomic configuration. The light-matter interaction leads to enhanced the magneto-optical rotation. The intensity of the applied fields plays promising role in the generation and enhancement of birefringence. It ultimately enhances the polarization plane rotation of the probe beam in the Doppler medium. In the presence of both SGC and Doppler broadening effects, the optical rotation and transmission of the weak light beam are modified and controlled as well, which have potential applications in magnetometery and laser frequency stabilization., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

In this paper, we report on the synthesis-via the wet chemical precipitation route method-and thin film characteristics of inorganic semiconductor, cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O) nanoparticles, for their potential application in enhancing the humidity-sensing properties of semiconducting polymer poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (F8). For morphological analysis of the synthesized Cu 2 O nanoparticles, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs are studied to investigate the texture, distribution, shape, and sizes of Cu 2 O crystallites. The TEM image of the Cu 2 O nanoparticles exhibits somewhat non-uniform distribution with almost uniform shape and size having an average particle size of ≈24 ± 2 nm. Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra are studied to validate the formation of Cu 2 O nanoparticles. Additionally, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is performed to analyze the surface morphology of polymer-inorganic (F8-Cu 2 O) nanocomposites thin film to see the grain sizes, mosaics, and average surface roughness. In order to study the enhancement in sensing properties of F8, a hybrid organic-inorganic (F8-Cu 2 O) surface-type humidity sensor Ag/F8-Cu 2 O/Ag is fabricated by employing F8 polymer as an active matrix layer and Cu 2 O nanoparticles as a dopant. The Ag/F8-Cu 2 O/Ag device is prepared by spin coating a 10:1 wt% solution of F8-Cu 2 O nanocomposite on pre-patterned silver (Ag) electrodes on glass. The inter-electrode gap (≈5 μm) between Ag is developed by photolithography. To study humidity sensing, the Ag/F8-Cu 2 O/Ag device is characterized by measuring its capacitance (C) as a function of relative humidity (%RH) at two different frequencies (120 Hz and 1 kHz). The device exhibits a broad humidity sensing range (27-86%RH) with shorter response time and recovery time, i.e., 9 s and 8 s, respectively. The present results show significant enhancement in the humidity-sensing properties as compared to our previously reported results of Ag/F8/Ag sensor wherein the humidity sensing range was 45-78%RH with 15 s and 7 s response and recovery times, respectively. The improvement in the humidity-sensing properties is attributed to the potential use of Cu 2 O nanoparticles, which change the hydrophobicity, surface to volume ratio of Cu 2 O nanoparticles, as well as modification in electron polarizability and polarity of the F8 matrix layer.

During the last decade, countless advancements have been made in the field of micro-energy storage systems (MESS) and ambient energy harvesting (EH) shows great potential for research and future improvement. A detailed historical overview with analysis, in the research area of MESS as a form of ambient EH, is presented in this study. The top-cited articles in the field of MESS ambient EH were selected from the Scopus database, and based on articles published from 2010 to 2021, and the number of citations. The search for these top-cited articles was conducted in the third week of December 2021. Mostly the manuscripts were technical and contained an experimental setup with algorithm development (65%), whereas 27.23% of the articles were survey-based. One important observation was that the top 20 selected articles, which are the most-cited articles in the different journals, come from numerous countries of origin. This study revealed that the MESS integrated renewable energy sources (RESs) are an enhancement field of research for EH applications. On the basis of this survey, we hope to identify and solve research problems in the field of MESS and RESs integration, and provide suggestions for future developments for EH applications.

In recent years, the nuclear power plant has received huge attention as it generates vast amounts of power at a lower cost. However, its creation of radioactive wastes is a major environmental concern. Therefore, the nuclear power plant requires a reliable and uninterrupted monitoring system as an essential part of it. Monitoring a nuclear power plant using wireless sensor networks is a convenient and popular practice now. This paper proposes a hybrid approach for monitoring wireless sensor networks in the context of a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh. Our hybrid approach enhances the lifespan of wireless sensor networks reducing power consumption and offering better connectivity of sensors. To do so, it uses both the topology maintenance and topology construction algorithms. We found that the HGETRecRot topology maintenance algorithm enhances the network lifetime compared to other algorithms. This algorithm increases the communication and sensing coverage area but decreases the network performance. We also propose a prediction model, based on linear regression algorithm, that predicts the best combination of topology maintenance and topology construction algorithms., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The Internet of Things (IoT) empowers the development of heterogeneous systems for various application domains using embedded devices and diverse data transmission protocols. Collaborative integration of these systems in the industrial domain leads to incompatibility and interoperability at different automation levels, requiring unified coordination to exchange information efficiently. The hardware specifications of these devices are resource-constrained, limiting their performance in resource allocation, data management, and remote process supervision. Hence, unlocking network capabilities with other domains such as cloud and web services is required. This study proposed a platform-independent middleware module incorporating the Open Platform Communication Unified Architecture (OPC UA) and Representational State Transfer (REST) paradigms. The object-oriented structure of this middleware allows information contextualization to address interoperability issues and offers aggregated data integration with other domains. RESTful web and cloud platforms were implemented to collect this middleware data, provide remote application support, and enable aggregated resource allocation in a database server. Several performance assessments were conducted on the developed system deployed in Raspberry Pi and Intel NUC PC, which showed acceptable platform resource utilization regarding CPU, bandwidth, and power consumption, with low service, update, and response time requirements. This integrated approach demonstrates an excellent cost-effective prospect for interoperable Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication, enables remote process supervision, and offers aggregated bulk data management with wider domains.

Surface plasmon (SP)-induced spectral hole burning (SHB) at the silver-dielectric interface is investigated theoretically. We notice a typical lamb dip at a selective frequency, which abruptly reduces the absorption spectrum of the surface plasmons polaritons (SPP). Introducing the spontaneous generated coherence (SGC) in the atomic medium, the slope of dispersion becomes normal. Additionally, slow SPP propagation is also noticed at the interface. The spectral hole burning dip is enhanced with the SGC effect and can be modified and controlled with the frequency and intensity of the driving fields. The SPP propagation length at the hole-burning region is greatly enhanced under the effect of SGC. A propagation length of the order of 600 µm is achieved for the modes, which is a remarkable result. The enhancement of plasmon hole burning under SGC will find significant applications in sensing technology, optical communication, optical tweezers and nano-photonics.

Like Smart Home and Smart Devices, Smart Navigation has become necessary to travel through the congestion of the structure of either building or in the wild. The advancement in smartphone technology and incorporation of many different precise sensors have made the smartphone a unique choice for developing practical navigation applications. Many have taken the initiative to address this by developing mobile-based solutions. Here, a cloud-based intelligent traveler assistant is proposed that exploits user-generated position and elevation data collected from ubiquitous smartphone devices equipped with Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer, and GPS (Global Positioning System) sensors. The data can be collected by the pedestrians and the drivers, and are then automatically put into topological information. The platform and associated innovative application allow travelers to create a map of a route or an infrastructure with ease and to share the information for others to follow. The cloud-based solution that does not cost travelers anything allows them to create, access, and follow any maps online and offline. The proposed solution consumes little battery power and can be used with lowly configured resources. The ability to create unknown, unreached, or unrecognized rural/urban road maps, building structures, and the wild map with the help of volunteer traveler-generated data and to share these data with the greater community makes the presented solution unique and valuable. The proposed crowdsourcing method of knowing the unknown would be an excellent support for travelers.

This paper reviews energy storage systems, in general, and for specific applications in low-cost micro-energy harvesting (MEH) systems, low-cost microelectronic devices, and wireless sensor networks (WSNs). With the development of electronic gadgets, low-cost microelectronic devices and WSNs, the need for an efficient, light and reliable energy storage device is increased. The current energy storage systems (ESS) have the disadvantages of self-discharging, energy density, life cycles, and cost. The ambient energy resources are the best option as an energy source, but the main challenge in harvesting energy from ambient sources is the instability of the source of energy. Due to the explosion of lithium batteries in many cases, and the pros associated with them, the design of an efficient device, which is more reliable and efficient than conventional batteries, is important. This review paper focused on the issues of the reliability and performance of electrical ESS, and, especially, discussed the technical challenges and suggested solutions for ESS (batteries, supercapacitors, and for a hybrid combination of supercapacitors and batteries) in detail. Nowadays, the main market of batteries is WSNs, but in the last decade, the world's attention has turned toward supercapacitors as a good alternative of batteries. The main advantages of supercapacitors are their light weight, volume, greater life cycle, turbo charging/discharging, high energy density and power density, low cost, easy maintenance, and no pollution. This study reviews supercapacitors as a better alternative of batteries in low-cost electronic devices, WSNs, and MEH systems.

Crisis impacts are never gender-neutral, and COVID-19 is no exception. The pandemic has further exacerbated the gender and socioeconomic inequalities, therefore, crucial to undertake a gender impact analysis of COVID-19. This perspective paper highlights women's vulnerability in the labor market and focused on the increasing unpaid workloads in the response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Focusing on various surveys, feminized sectors such as agriculture, garments have been hardest hit by the pandemic. Female workers have been rapidly lost their means to earn income and confined to homes. Beyond lost jobs and reduced working hours, the pandemic has also increased the time poverty of women. While pre-pandemic unpaid work burdens are well established as strong, the study indicates that burdens are escalated after-pandemic. Women balanced intensified unpaid care and domestic works simultaneously or make a tradeoff, without or minimal help from men. Such results suggest a gender-inclusive policy to minimize the effects of the pandemic, placing women at the center of focus., Competing Interests: The author declared no potential conflicts of interests with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The promising chemical, mechanical, and electrical properties of silver from nano scale to bulk level make it useful to be used in a variety of applications in the biomedical and electronic fields. Recently, several methods have been proposed and applied for the small-scale and mass production of silver in the form of nanoparticles, nanowires, and nanofibers. In this research, we have proposed a novel method for the fabrication of silver nano fibers (AgNFs) that is environmentally friendly and can be easily deployed for large-scale production. Moreover, the proposed technique is easy for device fabrication in different applications. To validate the properties, the synthesized silver nanofibers have been examined through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Further, the synthesized silver nanofibers have been deposited over sensors for Relative humidity (RH), Ammonia (NH 3 ), and temperature sensing applications. The sensor was of a resistive type, and found 4.3 kΩ for relative humidity (RH %) 30-90%, 400 kΩ for NH 3 (40,000 ppm), and 5 MΩ for temperature sensing (69 °C). The durability and speed of the sensor verified through repetitive, response, and recovery tests of the sensor in a humidity and gas chamber. It was observed that the sensor took 13 s to respond, 27 s to measure the maximum value, and took 33 s to regain its minimum value. Furthermore, it was observed that at lower frequencies and higher concentration of NH 3 , the response of the device was excellent. Furthermore, the device has linear and repetitive responses, is cost-effective, and is easy to fabricate.

Background and Objectives: Globally, coronary artery disease (CAD) remains one of the leading causes of death, both in developed and less economically developed countries (LEDC) including Bangladesh. Diet plays a key role in the pathogenesis processes of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of this study was to assess the dietary habit of heart disease cases that had CAD against matched controls., Methodology: Complying Helsinki ethical norms, with written consent, this case-control study was performed among 210 subjects: 105 CAD-hospitalized patients (selected from Lab Aid Cardiac and Specialized Hospitals) and 105 healthy subjects from local urban communities having their body mass index (BMI: ranging between ≥18.5 and 27 socio-demographic status, detailed-dietary patterns and blood pressure levels were recorded, anthropometric indices measured, and serum biochemistry (complete lipid profile) tested/analyzed for both the cases and controls. All visually re-checked data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tools (t test/conditional-logistic regressions) on SPS/Windows V.21.0., Result: Almost half (45%) CAD patients had hypertriglyceridemia and higher levels of low-density lipoprotein, significantly higher BMA (p=0.001), waist circumference, and waist to hip ratio in male patients (p=0.005 and p=0.020, respectively) than their peer controls. Serum lipid profiles, sugar concentrations, and blood pressure levels of CAD patients revealed higher levels than clinically defined cut-off values as established risk factors for CAD. Odds ratios (CI 95%) as risk factors for consuming junk food {OR=5.49 (2.25-13.38)}, chicken {OR=4.54 (1.89-10.9) was the most, followed by beef {OR=2.68 (1.19-4.98)}, eggs {OR=2.38 (1.14-10.92)}, fish {OR=2.81 (1.31-6.04)}, and vegetables {0R=.968 (0.510-1.839)}. However, fat-free milk, ghee/butter oil, curd/yogurt, and fruits had lower ORs revealing no or less risks for CAD., Conclusion: Food habits of CAD patients (with higher BMI level and biochemical indicators of the blood) statistically revealed that consuming junk food, meat, and eggs being riskier, fruits, fat-free milk, yogurt, and vegetable remains have protective effects on CAD.

Clostridium perfringens SM101 genome encodes three serine proteases (CspA, CspB, and CspC), and genetic evidence indicates that CspB is required for processing of pro-SleC into active SleC, an enzyme essential for degradation of the peptidoglycan cortex during spore germination. In this study, the expression of cspA and cspC, as well as the germination and colony formation by spores of cspAC and cspC mutants of strain SM101, were assessed. We demonstrated that 1) the cspA and cspC genes were expressed as a bicistronic operon only during sporulation in the mother cell compartment of SM101; 2) both cspAC and cspC mutant spores were unable to germinate significantly with either KCl, l-glutamine, brain heart infusion (BHI) broth, or a 1:1 chelate of Ca 2+ and dipicolinic acid (DPA); 3) consistent with germination results, both cspAC and cspC mutant spores were defective in normal DPA release; 4) the colony formation by cspAC and cspC mutant spores was ~10 6 -fold lower than that of wild-type spores, although decoated mutant spores yielded wild-type level colony formation on plates containing lysozyme; 5) no processing of inactive pro-SleC into active SleC was observed in cspAC and cspC mutant spores during germination; and finally, 6) the defects in germination, DPA release, colony formation and SleC processing in cspAC and cspC mutant spores were complemented by the wild-type cspA-cspC operon. Collectively, these results indicate that both CspA and CspC are essential for C. perfringens spore germination through activating SleC and inducing cortex hydrolysis., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This paper reports the potential application of cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots (QDs) in improving the microelectronic characteristics of Schottky barrier diode (SBD) prepared from a semiconducting material poly-(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (F8). Two SBDs, Ag/F8/P3HT/ITO and Ag/F8-CdSe QDs/P3HT/ITO, are fabricated by spin coating a 10 wt% solution of F8 in chloroform and 10:1 wt% solution of F8:CdSe QDs, respectively, on a pre-deposited poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate. To study the electronic properties of the fabricated devices, current-voltage (I-V) measurements are carried out at 25 °C in dark conditions. The I-V curves of Ag/F8/P3HT/ITO and Ag/F8-CdSe QDs/P3HT/ITO SBDs demonstrate asymmetrical behavior with forward bias current rectification ratio (RR) of 7.42 ± 0.02 and 142 ± 0.02, respectively, at ± 3.5 V which confirm the formation of depletion region. Other key parameters which govern microelectronic properties of the fabricated devices such as charge carrier mobility (µ), barrier height (ϕ b ), series resistance (R s ) and quality factor (n) are extracted from their corresponding I-V characteristics. Norde's and Cheung functions are also applied to characterize the devices to study consistency in various parameters. Significant improvement is found in the values of R s , n, and RR by 3, 1.7, and 19 times, respectively, for Ag/F8-CdSe QDs/P3HT/ITO SBD as compared to Ag/F8/P3HT/ITO. This enhancement is due to the incorporation of CdSe QDs having 3-dimensional quantum confinement and large surface-to-volume area. Poole-Frenkle and Richardson-Schottky conduction mechanisms are also discussed for both of the devices. Morphology, optical bandgap (1.88 ± 0.5 eV) and photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of CdSe QDs with a peak intensity at 556 nm are also reported and discussed.

As obligate anaerobes, clostridial pathogens depend on their metabolically dormant, oxygen-tolerant spore form to transmit disease. However, the molecular mechanisms by which those spores germinate to initiate infection and then form new spores to transmit infection remain poorly understood. While sporulation and germination have been well characterized in Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus anthracis , striking differences in the regulation of these processes have been observed between the bacilli and the clostridia, with even some conserved proteins exhibiting differences in their requirements and functions. Here, we review our current understanding of how clostridial pathogens, specifically Clostridium perfringens , Clostridium botulinum , and Clostridioides difficile , induce sporulation in response to environmental cues, assemble resistant spores, and germinate metabolically dormant spores in response to environmental cues. We also discuss the direct relationship between toxin production and spore formation in these pathogens.