Spatio-temporal patterns of dengue in Bangladesh during 2019 to 2023: Implications for targeted control strategies.

BACKGROUND: Dengue, a viral infection transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes, presents a substantial global public health concern, particularly in tropical regions. In Bangladesh, where dengue prevalence is noteworthy, accurately mapping the distribution of high-risk and low-risk areas and comprehending the clustering of dengue cases throughout the year is essential for the development of effective risk-based prevention and control strategies. Our objective was to identify dengue hotspots and temporal patterns over the years across Bangladesh in the years 2019-2023 excluding year 2020. METHODS: A sequential spatial analysis was employed for each year to identify high-risk areas for dengue cases. Choropleth graphs were used to visualize the geographic distribution of dengue incidence rates per million population across the areas. Monthly distribution analysis was performed to identify temporal trends over the year 2022 and 2023. Additionally, the global Moran's I test was used to assess the overall geographical pattern. Subsequently, Anselin local Moran's I test was employed to identified clustering and hotspots of dengue incidences. RESULTS: Dengue cases in Bangladesh exhibited a significant increase from 2019 to 2023 (excluding 2020 data), with a cumulative total of 513,344 reported cases. Dhaka city initially bore substantial burden, accounting for over half (51%) of the 101,354 cases in 2019. The case fatality rate also demonstrated a steadily rise, reaching 0.5% in 2023 with 321,179 cases (a five-fold increase compare to 2022). Interestingly, the proportion of cases in Dhaka decreased from 51% in 2019 to 34% in 2023. Notably, the southeast and central regions of Bangladesh showed the highest dengue rates, persisting throughout the study period. Cases were concentrated in urban regions, with Dhaka City exhibiting the highest caseload in most years, followed by Manikganj in 2023. A distinct temporal shift in dengue transmission was observed in 2023, when the peak incidence occurred three months earlier in July with complete geographic coverage (all the 64 districts) compared to the peak in October 2022 (covering 95%, 61 districts). Positive global autocorrelation analysis revealed spatial dependence, with more stable trends in 2023 compared to previous years. Several districts like, Bagerhat, Barisal, and Faridpur remained persistent hotspots or emerged as new hotspots in 2023. Conversely, districts like Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Rangpur and Sylhet consistently exhibited low caseloads, categorized as dengue coldspots throughout most of the years. Jhalokati in 2019 and Gopalganj in 2022, both initially classified as low-incidence district surrounded by high-incidence districts, emerged as hotspots in 2023. CONCLUSION: This study sheds light on the spatiotemporal dynamics of dengue transmission in Bangladesh, particularly by identifying hotspots and clustering patterns. These insights offer valuable information for designing and implementing targeted public health interventions and control strategies. Furthermore, the observed trends highlight the need for adaptable strategies to address the region's evolving nature of dengue transmission effectively.

Etomoxir repurposed as a promiscuous fatty acid mimetic chemoproteomic probe.

Etomoxir has been used for decades as a popular small molecule inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I, Cpt1, to block mitochondrial fatty acid ß-oxidation. To test the specificity of etomoxir, we generated click chemistry-enabled reagents to label etomoxir binding proteins in situ. Etomoxir bound to Cpt1, but also bound to a large array of diverse proteins that metabolize and transport fatty acids in the cytoplasm, peroxisome, and mitochondria. Many of the most abundant proteins identified in primary hepatocytes were peroxisomal proteins. The loss of Pex5, required for the import of peroxisomal matrix proteins, eliminated many of these etomoxir-labeled proteins. By utilizing the promiscuous, covalent, and fatty acid mimetic properties of etomoxir, etomoxir targets of fatty acid ω-oxidation were revealed following the loss of Pex5. These data demonstrate that etomoxir is not specific for Cpt1 and is not appropriate as a tool to distinguish the biological effects of fatty acid oxidation.

An immunoinformatics approach for a potential NY-ESO-1 and WT1 based multi-epitope vaccine designing against triple-negative breast cancer.

Breast cancer emerges as one of the most prevalent malignancies in women, its incidence showing a concerning upward trend. Among the diverse array of breast cancer subtypes, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) assumes notable significance, due to lack of estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2 receptors. More focus has to be placed on creating effective therapy due to the high prevalence and rising incidence of TNBC. Currently, conventional passive treatments have several drawbacks that have not yet been resolved. On the other hand, as innovative immunotherapy approaches, cancer vaccines have offered promising prospects in combatting advanced stages of TNBC. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to utilize WT1 and NY-ESO-1 antigenic proteins in designing a multiepitope vaccine against TNBC. Initially, to generate robust immune responses, we identified antigenic epitopes of both proteins and assessed their immunogenicity. In order to reduce junctional immunogenicity, promiscuous epitopes were joined using the suitable adjuvant (50S ribosomal L7/L12 protein) and incorporated appropriate linkers (GPGPG, AAY, and EAAAK). The best predicted 3D model was refined and validated to achieve an excellent 3D model. Molecular docking analysis and dynamic simulation were conducted to demonstrate the structural stability and integrity of the vaccine/TLR-4 complex. Finally, the vaccine was cloned into the vector pET28 (+). Thus, analysis of the constructed vaccine through immunoinformatics indicates its capability to elicit robust humoral and cellular immune responses in the targeted organism. As such, it holds promise as a therapeutic weapon against TNBC and may open doors for further research in the field.

Lentil adaptation to drought stress: response, tolerance, and breeding approaches.

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is a cool season legume crop that plays vital roles in food and nutritional security, mostly in the least developed countries. Lentil is often cultivated in dry and semi-dry regions, where the primary abiotic factor is drought, which negatively impacts lentil growth and development, resulting in a reduction of yield. To withstand drought-induced multiple negative effects, lentil plants evolved a variety of adaptation strategies that can be classified within three broad categories of drought tolerance mechanisms (i.e., escape, avoidance, and tolerance). Lentil adapts to drought by the modulation of various traits in the root system, leaf architecture, canopy structure, branching, anatomical features, and flowering process. Furthermore, the activation of certain defensive biochemical pathways as well as the regulation of gene functions contributes to lentil drought tolerance. Plant breeders typically employ conventional and mutational breeding approaches to develop lentil varieties that can withstand drought effects; however, little progress has been made in developing drought-tolerant lentil varieties using genomics-assisted technologies. This review highlights the current understanding of morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms of lentil adaptation to drought stress. We also discuss the potential application of omics-assisted breeding approaches to develop lentil varieties with superior drought tolerance traits.

Structure Activity of ß-Amidomethyl Vinyl Sulfones as Covalent Inhibitors of Chikungunya nsP2 Cysteine Protease with Antialphavirus Activity.

Despite their widespread impact on human health, there are no approved drugs for combating alphavirus infections. The heterocyclic ß-aminomethyl vinyl sulfone RA-0002034 (1a) is a potent irreversible covalent inhibitor of the alphavirus nsP2 cysteine protease with broad-spectrum antiviral activity. Analogs of 1a that varied each of the three regions of the molecule were synthesized to establish structure-activity relationships for the inhibition of Chikungunya (CHIKV) nsP2 protease and viral replication. The vinyl sulfone covalent warhead was highly sensitive to modifications. However, alterations to the core five-membered heterocycle and aryl substituent were well tolerated. The 5-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)pyrazole (1o) and 4-cyanopyrazole (8d) analogs exhibited kinact/Ki ratios >9000 M-1 s-1. 3-Arylisoxazole (10) was identified as an isosteric replacement for the five-membered heterocycle, which circumvented the intramolecular cyclization of pyrazole-based inhibitors like 1a. A ligand-based model of the enzyme active site was developed to aid the design of nsP2 protease inhibitors as potential therapeutics against alphaviruses.

Neurological Symptoms and Cause of Death Among Young Children in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Importance: The emergence of acute neurological symptoms in children necessitates immediate intervention. Although low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) bear the highest burden of neurological diseases, there is a scarcity of diagnostic and therapeutic resources. Therefore, current understanding of the etiology of neurological emergencies in LMICs relies mainly on clinical diagnoses and verbal autopsies. Objective: To characterize the association of premortem neurological symptoms and their management with postmortem-confirmed cause of death among children aged younger than 5 years in LMICs and to identify current gaps and improve strategies to enhance child survival. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 3, 2016, and July 22, 2022, at the 7 participating sites in the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and South Africa). Minimally invasive tissue sampling was performed at the CHAMPS sites with specimens from deceased children aged younger than 5 years. This study included deceased children who underwent a premortem neurological evaluation and had a postmortem-confirmed cause of death. Data analysis was performed between July 22, 2022, and January 15, 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures: Descriptive analysis was performed using neurological evaluations from premortem clinical records and from postmortem determination of cause of death (based on histopathology, microbiological testing, clinical records, and verbal autopsies). Results: Of the 2127 deaths of children codified during the study period, 1330 (62.5%) had neurological evaluations recorded and were included in this analysis. The 1330 children had a median age of 11 (IQR, 2-324) days; 745 (56.0%) were male and 727 (54.7%) presented with neurological symptoms during illness before death. The most common postmortem-confirmed neurological diagnoses related to death were hypoxic events (308 [23.2%]), meningoencephalitis (135 [10.2%]), and cerebral malaria (68 [5.1%]). There were 12 neonates with overlapping hypoxic events and meningoencephalitis, but there were no patients with overlapping meningoencephalitis and cerebral malaria. Neurological symptoms were similar among diagnoses, and no combination of symptoms was accurate in differentiating them without complementary tools. However, only 25 children (18.5%) with meningitis had a lumbar puncture performed before death. Nearly 90% of deaths (442 of 511 [86.5%]) with neurological diagnoses in the chain of events leading to death were considered preventable. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cross-sectional study of children aged younger than 5 years, neurological symptoms were frequent before death. However, clinical phenotypes were insufficient to differentiate the most common underlying neurological diagnoses. The low rate of lumbar punctures performed was especially worrying, suggesting a challenge in quality of care of children presenting with neurological symptoms. Improved diagnostic management of neurological emergencies is necessary to ultimately reduce mortality in this vulnerable population.

The synergistic effects of Korean Red Ginseng and Cervi Parvum Cornu ameliorating FeCl3-induced arterial thrombosis by downregulating ICAM-1 and VCAM-1.

In this study, we compared antithrombotic activities of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) and Cervi Parvum Cornu (CPC) on rats with induced thrombosis. Results indicate that KRG and CPC suppressed the arterial occlusion and the combination of KRG and CPC (KRG + CPC) treatment exhibited a synergistic effect with maximum reduction in thrombosis.

Correlation of Cognitive Status and Atrophy Score in Alzheimer's Disease Among the Bangladeshi Population.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients suffer from cognitive dysfunction. This study assessed the structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scoring among Alzheimer's patients (age ≥18 years) to correlate with dementia severity according to mini-mental state exam (MMSE) scores. METHODS: This cross-sectional study evaluated Bangladeshi adult AD patients from January 2018 to December 2022 who attended with subjective memory complaints and fulfilled the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders criteria (DSM 5) for diagnosing dementia. The medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) and Koedam's score of the atrophy were measured utilising the 1.5 and 3 Tesla Magnetom symphony MRI systems. RESULTS: Of the 62 patients enrolled, the majority (39 cases; 62.9%) were aged over 60 years. Males were more predominant than females, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.6:1, and the moderate MMSE group consisted of 35.6% males and 64.7% females (P = 0.01). Further, MTA score severity is paradoxically associated with the MMSE score (P = 0.005). Additionally, we found a statistically significant negative correlation between the severity of the MMSE and only MTA scores (r = -0.350; 95% CI -0.551 to -0.110; P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Structural magnetic resonance imaging among Alzheimer's patients is significantly correlated with the severity of dementia as per mini-mental state exam scores.

Dynamical property of interaction solutions to the Chafee-Infante equation via NMSE method.

In this work, we study the Chafee-Infante model with conformable fractional derivative. This model describes the energy balance between equator and pole of solar system, which transmit energy via heat diffusion. To explore the multi soliton solutions and their interaction, we implemented the new modified simple equation (NMSE) scheme. Under some conditions, the obtained solutions are trigonometric, hyperbolic, exponential and their combine form. Only the proposed technique can be provided the solution in terms of trigonometric and hyperbolic form together directly. The periodic, solitary wave and novel interaction of such solitary and sinusoidal solutions has also been established and discussed analytically. For the special values of the existing free parameter, some novel waveforms are existed for the proposed model including, periodic solution, double periodic wave solution, multi-kink solution. The behavior of the obtained solutions is presented in 3-D plot, density plot and counter plot with the help of computational software Maple 18.

Fabrication of Ag-doped BiOF-reduced graphene oxide composites for photocatalytic elimination of organic dyes.

Bismuth oxyfluoride (BiOF) is an emerging class of material with notable chemical stability, unique layered structure and striking energy band structure. Bi-based semiconductor materials and reduced graphene oxides (rGOs) have attracted considerable attention due to their broad spectrum of potential applications. Herein, we successfully synthesised an efficient photocatalyst comprising BiOF-rGO nanocomposites with embedded Ag nanoparticles using a simple hydrothermal method. The synthesised nanocomposites were characterised through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy and ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectroscopy. The XRD results indicated the crystalline structures of the BiOF, Ag-doped BiOF and Ag-doped BiOF-rGO composites. Photocatalytic activity assessments focused on the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes under UV-light and sunlight irradiation. The Ag-doped BiOF-rGO composite exhibited significantly enhanced degradation efficiency, achieving 61.81 % and 74.25 % degradation of MB and MO, respectively, after 300 min under UV-light irradiation. On the contrary, pure BiOF demonstrated only 17.63 % and 48.29 % degradation for MB and MO, respectively, under similar conditions. Furthermore, under sunlight irradiation, the Ag-doped BiOF-rGO composite exhibited an MB removal efficiency of 43.87 % after 300 min, whereas pure BiOF showed only 27.47 % under identical conditions. These results underscore the potential of Ag-doped BiOF-rGO composites as highly efficient and adaptable photocatalysts for the photodegradation of organic dyes in industrial wastewater.

Informing an investment case for Japanese encephalitis vaccine introduction in Bangladesh.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a major threat to human health. Bangladesh is considering introducing a JEV vaccine; however, the investment case is hampered by a limited understanding of key aspects of JEV ecology. We conducted a seroprevalence study in a high-incidence region using an assay that limits cross-reactivity with dengue virus. We also trapped mosquitoes and collected information about potential host species. We used mathematical models to recover risk factors for infection and underlying probabilities of severe disease and death. We observed 19.0% [95% confidence interval (CI):17.1 to 21.1] of JEV antibodies. On average, 0.7% (95% CI: 0.2 to 2.0) of the susceptible population gets infected yearly, with pig proximity being the main human infection risk factor. Our traps captured 10 different mosquito species that have been linked with JEV transmission. We estimated that 1 in 1000 infections results in severe disease, 1 in 10,000 results in death, and 76% of severe cases are missed by surveillance.

Streamlined detection of Nipah virus antibodies using a split NanoLuc biosensor.

Nipah virus (NiV) is an emerging zoonotic RNA virus that can cause fatal respiratory and neurological diseases in animals and humans. Accurate NiV diagnostics and surveillance tools are crucial for the identification of acute and resolved infections and to improve our understanding of NiV transmission and circulation. Here, we have developed and validated a split NanoLuc luciferase NiV glycoprotein (G) biosensor for detecting antibodies in clinical and animal samples. This assay is performed by simply mixing reagents and measuring luminescence, which depends on the complementation of the split NanoLuc luciferase G biosensor following its binding to antibodies. This anti-NiV-G "mix-and-read" assay was validated using the WHO's first international standard for anti-NiV antibodies and more than 700 serum samples from the NiV-endemic country of Bangladesh. Anti-NiV antibodies from survivors persisted for at least 8 years according to both ⍺NiV-G mix-and-read and NiV neutralization assays. The ⍺NiV-G mix-and-read assay sensitivity (98.6%) and specificity (100%) were comparable to anti-NiV IgG ELISA performance but failed to detect anti-NiV antibodies in samples collected less than a week following the appearance of symptoms. Overall, the anti-NiV-G biosensor represents a simple, fast, and reliable tool that could support the expansion of NiV surveillance and retrospective outbreak investigations.

Comprehensive Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Dynamics in Bangladesh: Infection Trends and Variants (2020-2023).

The first case of COVID-19 was detected in Bangladesh on 8 March 2020. Since then, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has implemented various measures to limit the transmission of COVID-19, including widespread testing facilities across the nation through a laboratory network for COVID-19 molecular testing. This study aimed to analyze the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Bangladesh by conducting COVID-19 testing and genomic surveillance of the virus variants throughout the pandemic. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from authorized GoB collection centers between April 2020 and June 2023. The viral RNA was extracted and subjected to real-time PCR analysis in icddr,b's Virology laboratory. A subset of positive samples underwent whole-genome sequencing to track the evolutionary footprint of SARS-CoV-2 variants. We tested 149,270 suspected COVID-19 cases from Dhaka (n = 81,782) and other districts (n = 67,488). Of these, 63% were male. The highest positivity rate, 27%, was found in the >60 years age group, followed by 26%, 51-60 years, 25% in 41-50 years, and the lowest, 9% in under five children. Notably, the sequencing of 2742 SARS-CoV-2 genomes displayed a pattern of globally circulating variants, Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron, successively replacing each other over time and causing peaks of COVID-19 infection. Regarding the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, it was observed that the positivity rate increased with age compared to the under-5 age group in 2020 and 2021. However, these trends did not remain consistent in 2022, where older age groups, particularly those over 60, had a lower positivity rate compared to other age groups due to vaccination. The study findings generated data on the real-time circulation of different SARS-CoV-2 variants and the upsurge of COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh, which impacted identifying hotspots and restricting the virus from further transmission. Even though there is currently a low circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in Bangladesh, similar approaches of genomic surveillance remain essential for monitoring the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants or other potential pathogens that could lead to future pandemics.

Morphometrics and Reproductive Characteristics of the Freshwater Crab Sartoriana spinigera from the Habitat of Ratargul Swamp Forest, Bangladesh: An Approach to Conservation.

A total of 332 freshwater crab Sartoriana spinigera samples were collected for eight consecutive months from the Ratargul freshwater swamp forest, Bangladesh, to examine their general morphometrics and reproductive traits. The length-weight relationships of carapace weight with carapace length, width, and depth indicated negative allometric growth. The logarithmic relationship between carapace weight and carapace length, carapace weight and carapace width, and carapace weight and carapace depth exhibited a correlation value of 0.86, 0.79, and 0.56, respectively. Fulton's condition factor and allometric condition factor were found to be highest in March and lowest in October. The sex ratio was 1.59 : 1 for the male to female, which did not show a considerable divergence from the expected 1 : 1 ratio in the chi-square test (P < 0.05). In July, a maximum of mature individuals was collected and investigated. The fertilization was 1297 ± 629 ova, the ovary weight was 447.22 ± 359.39 mg, and the egg diameter was 375.15 ± 130.18 µm. Histological analysis showed that the male hepatopancreas was well organized and decomposition was reported in the female during the vitellogenic stages of the ovary. Spermatogonium cells were found in the male gonad, and cells from the female gonad were in the vitellogenic mature stage. In conclusion, the research will serve as a foundation for future research work on freshwater crab species as well as the conservation and maintenance of the ecological balance of this species in the Ratargul freshwater swamp forest.

Pesticide knowledge and attitude among the potato growing farmers of Bangladesh and determinant factors.

The study aimed to assess the extent of pesticide use among potato-growing farmers in Bangladesh and its relationship with their knowledge, attitude, and socio-demographic characteristics. Data were collected from 553 farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire through multistage random sampling. Bivariate analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between the frequency of pesticide use and various socio-demographic factors. Results showed that out of 321 different pesticide brands reported, 50.5% were registered, while 47.7% were unregistered and 1.9% were banned. Among the registered pesticides, 5.6% were highly hazardous, 24.8% were moderately hazardous, and 6.2% were slightly hazardous as per World Health Organization category. A high percentage (96%) of farmers reported using pesticides in their fields, with 16.6% applying pesticides more than five times in a cropping season. Data revealed that majority of the farmers were aware of the negative effect of pesticides on health and environment. Most farmers used hand towels (77.9%) and ordinary shirts (70.0%) to cover their bodies to avoid pesticide exposure. Inappropriate disposal of empty pesticide containers was also observed. Negative binomial regression analysis revealed significant positive associations between the frequency of pesticide application and potato productivity, rate of fertilizer application, area of land owned by farmers, and their knowledge about the negative effects of pesticides on human health. The study suggests adopting integrated pest management practices, developing pest-resistant potato varieties, ensuring safe handling practices and disposal as well as stringent enforcement of laws to mitigate pesticide externalities and hence ensure sustainability in agriculture.

Phenotypic diversity in qualitative and quantitative traits for selection of high yield potential field pea genotypes.

Field pea (Pisum sativum L.) needs improvement to increase productivity due to its high price and demand. However, the incidence of powdery mildew (PM) disease limits its production. This study aimed to analyze the diversity of qualitative and quantitative traits against powdery mildew resistance by utilizing cluster and principal component analysis to explore PM resistance high-yield potential field peas. Shannon-Weaver's diversity index (H') displayed high intra-genotype diversity for quantitative and qualitative aspects. Heterogeneity was identified for resistance against powdery mildew infections. Eighty-five genotypes were divided into five groups using Mohalanobis generalized distance (D2) statistics. The highest inter-cluster D2 value was observed between clusters 2 and 3 (11.89) while the lowest value was found between clusters 3 and 4 (2.06). Most of the genotypes had noticeable differences, so these could be employed in a crossing scheme. Twelve genotypes were extremely resistant, 29 genotypes were resistant, 25 genotypes were moderately resistant, 18 genotypes were fairly susceptible, and 1 genotype was susceptible to powdery mildew disease. Among 29 resistant genotypes, BFP77, BFP74, BFP63, BFP62, BFP43, and BFP80 were high yielders and, could be used directly and/or transferred through hybridization to high-yielding disease-susceptible genotypes. Among the 25 moderately resistant genotypes, BFP78, BFP45, BFP79, and BFP48 were found to be high yielders. In principal component analysis (PCA), the first four PCs with Eigen values > 1 accounted for 88.4% variability for quantitative traits. Clustering sorted genotypes into five groups, where groups 1 to 5 assembled 37, 28, 1, 8, and 11 genotypes, respectively. Genotypes of cluster 4 were identified as high yielders with its attributes. Pearson correlation significantly and positively correlated across all traits except for PM. This variation suggested that there is a mechanism to select promising genotypes for field pea breeding. Considering all features, BFP78, BFP77, BFP74, BFP63, BFP62, BFP45, BFP79, and BFP80 could be preferred as high yielders and PM resistance owing to longer pod lengths, seeds per pod and pods per plant.

Behavioral intentions of university teachers and students toward the adoption of the hyb-blended learning method: Evidence from Bangladesh.

Hyb-blended learning is a novel method that can serve as a substitute for conventional classroom-based learning activities, demonstrating effectiveness in both pandemics like COVID-19 and other crises, as well as in non-pandemic situations. The successful application of this method in the field of education depends on the users' intentions to adopt it. Therefore, this study aims to understand the behavioral intentions of teachers and students at Bangladeshi universities toward the adoption of the hyb-blended learning method. A correlational, cross-sectional, and sample survey-based research design was employed. Two structured questionnaires, one for teachers and one for students, were used to collect data from 171 teachers and 713 students from 11 public and 8 private universities in Bangladesh. The conceptual model of the study was developed on the theoretical underpinnings of the "Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT)." The study used a structural equation modeling technique to test the hypotheses. The results of the study revealed that the proposed learning method would increase teaching and learning opportunities for both teachers and students in Bangladeshi universities. They would adopt this method without relying on the experiences of others or what others think or say. Unlike teachers, the study also found that students would use it if they received support and influence from friends, fellow students, university authorities, and other external factors. However, their intentions toward adopting this method depend on the availability of resources and support for adopting it, as well as adequate and necessary understanding and talent to use it effectively. Results also revealed that they would adopt the method if it was found to be simple to use. The study has a notable practical implication, as it has proposed an alternative learning and teaching method that would be effective in Bangladeshi universities during the COVID-19 pandemic or other crises and in non-pandemic situations as well.

Solar power conversion: CuI hole transport layer and Ba3NCl3 absorber enable advanced solar cell technology boosting efficiency over 30.

Researchers are becoming more interested in novel barium-nitride-chloride (Ba3NCl3) hybrid perovskite solar cells (HPSCs) due to their remarkable semiconductor properties. An electron transport layer (ETL) built from TiO2 and a hole transport layer (HTL) made of CuI have been studied in Ba3NCl3-based single junction photovoltaic cells in a variety of variations. Through extensive numerical analysis using SCAPS-1D simulation software, we investigated elements such as layer thickness, defect density, doping concentration, interface defect density, carrier concentration, generation, recombination, temperature, series and shunt resistance, open circuit voltage (V OC), short circuit current (J SC), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (PCE). The study found that the HTL CuI design reached the highest PCE at 30.47% with a V OC of 1.0649 V, a J SC of 38.2609 mA cm-2, and an FF of 74.78%. These findings offer useful data and a practical plan for producing inexpensive, Ba3NCl3-based thin-film solar cells.

Erratum to "The synergistic effects of organic composts and microelements co-application in enhancing potato productivity in saline soils" [Heliyon 10(12), 30 June 2024, Article e32694].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32694.].

Why COVID-19 Symptomatic Patients Did Not Seek Healthcare Service at the Early Phase of the Pandemic in Bangladesh: Evidence From a Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective The health-seeking behavior (HSB) of patients during an outbreak is crucial in mitigating the spread of disease. Poor HSB can increase mortality and make contact tracing more difficult. In this study, we aimed to examine the status of HSB among Bangladeshi educated individuals during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic when infection was spreading quickly, and social distancing measures were tightened across the country. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey online among Bangladeshi individuals using a virtual snowball sampling method to capture suspected COVID-19 patients who did not undergo COVID-19 diagnostic testing. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed with statistical significance defined as p<0.05. Results The study consisted of 390 participants with 44.9% having a bachelor's degree, followed by 25.9% with a master's or PhD degree. Commonly reported symptoms among the participants included fever (77.7%), cough (50.5%), headache (46.2%), body pain (36.4%), sore throat (35.6%), anosmia (31.3%), anorexia (13.8%), diarrhea (11.4%), and dyspnea (11.3%). The most common reasons for not taking the COVID-19 test were limited testing facilities (48%), the risk of infection from the test center (46%), fear of social stigma (19%), considering COVID-19 infection as innocuous (18%), and fear of forced quarantine (5%). In regression analysis, participants who lived in rural areas were found to be 2.5 times more likely to buy medications from nearby pharmacies. Males were more likely to self-medicate, with male participants being 3.2 times more likely than female participants to consider COVID-19 infection as harmless (AOR: 3.2, CI: 1.28-7.98). Smokers were more likely to seek help from government hotlines and to use drugs at home. Respondents with higher monthly income were less likely to fear forced quarantine (AOR: 0.27, CI: 0.4-2.02) but more likely to consider the risk of infection at the test center (AOR: 1.75, CI: 0.88-3.49). Conclusion Our study highlights that non-compliance with public health guidelines by educated people during an epidemic indicates a general lack of health literacy and distrust in the healthcare system. Along with improved infrastructure, efforts to enhance public health risk communication and health literacy are necessary to rebuild public trust in the healthcare service.