Effect of natural thickener on printing performance over cotton woven fabric.

Execution of natural thickener (wild taro corm) over pretreated cotton woven fabric with reactive dye has been explored in this research work. Taro root was collected from Sherpur in Bangladesh and made into a fine powder using a grinder. Thickener pastes were prepared by using different concentrations of taro powder, then their viscosity was measured to find out the difference with sodium alginate thickener, which is traditionally used for reactive printing. A suitable thickener stock paste concentration was selected from a number of trials and depending on the result of visual sharpness of the printed samples. A suitable reactive printing method was selected between all in (1 step) and 2 step methods of reactive printing and finally the amount of thickener on the printing recipe was optimized. The color fastness to wash, color fastness to rubbing, bending length, K/S value, levelness, penetration%, print paste adds on and visual sharpness were measured to assess the printing quality. The findings indicate that when Taro corm powder is combined with boiled water, it produces a solution with higher viscosity. Additionally, a mixture of 15 % taro and boiled water yields the most distinct print outline. Comparatively, the 2-step reactive printing method offers a superior outline compared to the 1-step (all in one) method. Moreover, using 50 to 60 gm of taro corm thickening paste for every 100 g of print paste results in a higher K/S value. The results revealed that the wild taro corm could be used successfully as thickener for reactive printing. Finally, the cost was also calculated, and it was found economical as well compared to sodium alginate.

Evaluation of Aflatoxins and Heavy Metals Exposure in the Local Feeds of Fish and Shrimp in Bangladesh.

This study aims to comprehensively assess the presence of aflatoxins, pervasive fungal toxins, and heavy metals (lead, chromium, cadmium) in the local feed of fish and shrimp. Forty-eight samples of the fish and shrimp feed were collected from the Dhaka and Sathkhira districts of Bangladesh respectively. Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2) were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detector, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) was used for the heavy metal detection after sample digestion. The standard analytical methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists were followed for analyzing the proximate composition of the feed samples. The findings revealed the high toxic concentration of total aflatoxins particularly in fish feed (196.25 µg/kg). Concurrently, varying concentrations of heavy metals, including lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr), were detected, with the highest levels found in shrimp feed at 3.324 and 174.6 mg/kg, respectively. In comparison, highest contamination of cadmium (Cd) was found in fish feed at 0.398 mg/kg. The outcomes are growing concerns regarding the quality of locally sourced feed and emphasizing the need for prompt corrective actions. Otherwise, neglecting this concern may lead to the possibility of both fish and, ultimately, humans who consume them being vulnerable to the absorption and accumulation of these assessed toxic compounds.

Fabrication and synergistically enhanced photocatalytic activity of ternary kaolinite, TiO2, and Al2O3 (K65T30A5) nanocomposite for visible-light-induced degradation of methylene blue and remazol red dye.

The ternary photocatalyst ((Al2Si2O5 (OH)4/TiO2/Al2O3) composites (where w/w = 65, 30, and 5 wt%) denoted K65T30A5 were successfully synthesized and examined for their efficiency in removing cationic (Methylene Blue, MB) and anionic (Remazol Red, RR) dye from aqueous medium under visible-light irradiation. A series of nanocomposites with varied wt% of kaolinite, TiO2, and Al2O3 were prepared through sonication followed by calcination at 600 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the crystallinity of the synthesized materials and established their average crystal size to be 83.87 nm. The morphological structure, composite molecule, and surface properties of the resulting K65T30A5 were characterized using FTIR, FE-SEM, and EDS analyses to confirm the successful fabrication of the nanocomposite. FTIR and EDS elemental mapping analyses confirmed the presence of Al, Si, Ti, and O elements in the nanocomposites. The composites exhibited photocatalytic behaviour across the UV-visible spectra, with values varying from the ultraviolet to the visible region with a sharp increase in reflectance at 510 nm. Near-complete degradation of MB (97.66 %) was achieved within 90 min at pH 9 and a 10 mg/L dye concentration, while RR removal reached 90.66 % within 120 min at pH 3.5 and the same dye concentration under visible light irradiation. The catalyst exhibited robust stability, retaining its efficiency by removing 85.09 % of MB and 80.21 % of RR dye after three reuse cycles. The composite catalyst discussed in this study emerges as a promising material for straightforward fabrication techniques, featuring a high percentage of kaolinite and proving to be a cost-effective solution for large-scale water and wastewater treatment processes.

Diabetes mellitus, the fastest growing global public health concern: Early detection should be focused.

Background and Aims: Diabetes is recognized as a significant factor in both mortality and morbidity worldwide, affecting various demographics regardless of geographic location, age group, or gender. This correspondence aims to express concern and draw the attention of leaders and policymakers worldwide to this critical public health issue. Methods: A thorough literature search was conducted utilizing various databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) website, to collect the required data. Keywords were strategically applied to enhance search results, with preference given to English-language articles containing pertinent information. Results: According to the 2021 report by the IDF, approximately 537 million individuals globally were affected with diabetes, constituting roughly 10.5% of the world's populace. This condition incurred healthcare expenditures totaling $966 billion. Projections indicate a surge in diabetes cases to 783 million by 2045, with associated healthcare costs estimated to surpass $1054 billion. However, almost half of all people with diabetes are unaware of their medical condition, with the highest prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes Mellitus (DM) found in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) of the regions of Africa, the Western Pacific, and Southeast Asia. Conclusion: Collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO), LMIC governments should improve healthcare accessibility, including more frequent diabetes screenings for individuals aged ≥ 45 years and younger individuals at elevated risk of having a family history.

Spatiotemporal mapping of rice acreage and productivity growth in Bangladesh.

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.

Current trends in textile wastewater treatment-bibliometric review.

A bibliometric study using 1992 to 2021 database of the Science Citation Index Expanded was carried out to identify which are the current trends in textile wastewater treatment research. The study aimed to analyze the performance of scholarly scientific communications in terms of yearly publications/citations, total citations, scientific journals, and their categories in the Web of Sciences, top institutions/countries and research trends. The annual publication of scientific articles fluctuated in the first ten years, with a steady decrease for the last twenty years. An analysis of the most common terms used in the authors' keywords, publications' titles, and KeyWords Plus was carried out to predict future trends and current research priorities. Adsorbent nanomaterials would be the future of wastewater treatment for decoloration of the residual dyes in the wastewater. Membranes and electrolysis are important to demineralize textile effluent for reusing wastewater. Modern filtration techniques such as ultrafiltration and nanofiltration are advanced membrane filtration applications.

Comparative analysis of biometrical and reproductive indices, proximate composition, and hemato-biochemical variables of cuchia eel Monopterus cuchia (Hamilton, 1822) from six different localities of Bangladesh.

Cuchia eel (Monopterus cuchia) is among the most sought-after freshwater fish, owing to its exceptional nutritional profile and high consumer demand. The current research aimed to establish baseline data by comparing the proximate composition, hematological, and plasma biochemical indices of Cuchia eel populations across six different geographical locations in Bangladesh: Bogra, Haluaghat, Jamalpur, Moktagacha, Sylhet, and Tangail. By examining these parameters, we aim to gain valuable insights into the nutritional benefits, physiological responses, and potential adaptations of this species to varying environments. The statistical analysis revealed no significant (P > 0.05) variances in the whole-body proximate composition of the fish captured from distinct areas. However, it was observed that different geographical regions had remarkable impacts on the variations of the majority of the hematological parameters, except for some cases. Additionally, there was a notable (P < 0.05) increase or decrease in most of the serum biochemical contents in certain localities as compared to others in this study. Light microscopic examination of Cuchia eel blood smears exhibited lower numbers but larger sizes of RBCs. The findings of this study lead to the conclusion that different localities had significant impacts on the hematology and blood biochemical indices of Cuchia eel, even though the whole-body proximate composition showed no significant variations. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the physiological aspects of Cuchia eel.

Identification of influential weather parameters and seasonal drought prediction in Bangladesh using machine learning algorithm.

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.

Using an internal body residue approach to assess acute pesticide toxicity in juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha).

The use of internal body residues has the potential to improve toxicological assessments of hydrophobic pesticides. The acute toxicity of three classes of pesticides were assessed in juvenile Chinook salmon using internal body residues. Chinook salmon were exposed to two current-use pesticides bifenthrin and fipronil, and 4,4'- dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), which is a degradation product of the legacy pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). After 96-h of aqueous exposure to each pesticide, the pesticide content in whole-body Chinook salmon homogenates was measured using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with methane negative chemical ionization. The wet-weight (ww) normalized lethal residue at 50% mortality (LR50) was lowest for bifenthrin (0.654 nmol/g ww), followed by fipronil (7.17 nmol/g ww) and the sum of fipronil and its sulfone, sulfide, and desulfinyl degradation products (8.72 nmol/g ww). No lethality was observed for DDE, even at the highest body residue (>116 nmol/g ww). LR50 estimates were also normalized to dry weight and lipid content and compared to field-caught fish to assess risk. The use of a risk quotient approach indicated that bifenthrin imparts the highest risk of acute toxicity in juvenile Chinook salmon among the three pesticides tested. In comparison to external dose metrics, the use of internal body residues has the potential to improve risk assessment by providing a more direct link between pesticide concentration at the receptor site and toxicological effects.

Evaluation of LAMP for Fasciola hepatica detection from faecal samples of experimentally and naturally infected cattle.

Fasciola hepatica causes liver fluke disease in production animals and humans worldwide. Faecal egg counts (FEC) are the most common diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of liver fluke disease. However, FEC has low sensitivity and is often unreliable for the detection of patent infection. In this study, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) was optimised and evaluated for the detection of Fasciola hepatica infection, with the aim of increased sensitivity and making it suitable for on-farm application. LAMP was initially conducted under laboratory conditions, optimised to enable visual detection using calcein dye. DNA extraction based on bead-beating was developed to enable on-farm application. LAMP results were compared to FEC and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Under laboratory conditions, LAMP was conducted using two incubation methods: a conventional PCR thermocycler and a field-deployable LAMP instrument. When compared to a 'rigorous' FEC protocol consisting of multiple counts using a comparatively large volume of faeces and with infection confirmed post-mortem, LAMP was highly sensitive and specific (using silica membrane DNA extraction sensitivity 88 %, specificity 100 %; using sieving and beat-beating DNA extraction sensitivity 98.9 %, specificity 100 %). When applied on-farm, LAMP was compared to conventional FEC, which suggested high sensitivity but low specificity (sensitivity 97 %, specificity 37.5 %). However, further analysis, comparing field LAMP results to laboratory PCR, suggested that the low specificity was likely the outcome of the inability of conventional FEC to detect all true F. hepatica positive samples. Based on the high sensitivity and specificity of LAMP compared to a 'rigorous' FEC protocol and its ability to be used in field settings, the study demonstrates the potential of LAMP for diagnosing F. hepatica infection in agriculture.

Inhibition of microRNA-34c reduces detrusor ROCK2 expression and urinary bladder inflammation in experimental cystitis.

Interstitial cystitis (IC), also called painful bladder syndrome (PBS), is 2 to 5 times more common in women than in men, yet its cause and pathogenesis remain unclear. In our study using the cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced mouse model of cystitis, histological evaluation of the urinary bladder (UB) lamina propria (LP) showed immune cell infiltrations, indicating moderate to severe inflammation. In this study, we noticed a differential expression of a subset of microRNAs (miRs) in the UB cells (UBs) of CYP-induced cystitis as compared to the control. UB inflammatory scores and inflammatory signaling were also elevated in CYP-induced cystitis as compared to control. We identified eight UBs miRs that exhibited altered expression after CYP induction and are predicted to have a role in inflammation and smooth muscle function (miRs-34c-5p, -34b-3p, -212-3p, -449a-5p, -21a-3p, -376b-3p, -376b-5p and - 409-5p). Further analysis using ELISA for inflammatory markers and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) for differentially enriched miRs identified miR-34c as a potential target for the suppression of UB inflammation in cystitis. Blocking miR-34c by antagomir ex vivo reduced STAT3, TGF-ß1, and VEGF expression in the UBs, which was induced during cystitis as compared to control. Interestingly, miR-34c inhibition also downregulated ROCK2 but elevated ROCK1 expression in bladder and detrusor cells. Thus, the present study shows that targeting miR-34c can mitigate the STAT3, TGF-ß, and VEGF, inflammatory signaling in UB, and suppress ROCK2 expression in UBs to effectively suppress the inflammatory response in cystitis. This study highlights miR-34c as a potential biomarker and/or serves as the basis for new therapies for the treatment of cystitis.

Physicochemical reports of gliclazide-carplex solid dispersions and tablets prepared with directly compressible co-processed excipients.

Objectives: The main goal of this research was to develop better tablet formulations by utilizing solid dispersions (SDs) and coprocessing excipients composite to achieve a better release rate of poor water-soluble gliclazide. Methods: The solvent evaporation method made SDs of gliclazide with different carriers carplex 67, carplex 80, and carplex FPS 500 (weight ratio, 1:1). The drug release patterns of the SDs were all evaluated and optimized. The SDs were illustrated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (PXRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Tablet batches FGC-1 to 8 were made using gliclazide-carplex 67 solid dispersions (GC67-SDs) and the co-processed composite of excipients, namely starch-MCC-povidone (SMP) and lactose-MCC-povidone-sodium starch glycolate (LMPS), prepared with coprocessing technology. We evaluated these batches by conducting physicochemical tests and comparing them to the existing commercial brand. Results: In a water medium, the release of gliclazide from SDs peaked within the first 30 min, showing a roughly 5∼6-fold increase compared to plain gliclazide. This quick dissolution rate may be due to the amorphization of the drug, which improved the specific surface area, and increased wettability caused by the hydrophilic properties of carplex particles. This has been confirmed through SEM, DSC, FTIR, and PXRD analysis. All FGC formulations had satisfactory pre-compression factor results, while the post-compression parameters indicated good mechanical strength and homogeneity across the blend. All produced tablets met the weight variation, friability, and disintegration time limit set by the compendia. Through in vitro drug release testing, it was discovered that all FGC tablet batches had consistent and nearly identical release results compared to SDs of gliclazide. However, the FGC-5 to 8 batches containing LMPS composites were determined to be the most effective formulations. In the first 30 min in a water medium, the percentage of drug generated from the FGC-8 tablets involving GC67-SDs and co-processed composite LMPS-4 is approximately 3.5 times higher than the average release of currently marketed products (MPs). After storing the selected FGC tablet batches for three months at 40 °C and 75 % RH, there were no noticeable alterations in the amount of drug and drug release profiles across the batches. Conclusion: Based on these findings, it appears that using the carplex silica-based SDs approach, along with gliclazide and co-processing excipients composite, could result in significant benefits compared to the current commercial brands. This approach could be effectively utilized to create solid dosage forms for drugs that have low solubility in water.

Jute Stick-Derived Cellulose-Based Hydrogel: Synthesis, Characterization, and Methylene Blue Removal from Aqueous Solution.

In this work, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was isolated from jute sticks and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC) was synthesized from the isolated MCC. Na-CMC is an anionic derivative of microcrystalline cellulose. The microcrystalline cellulose-based hydrogel (MCCH) and Na-CMC-based hydrogel (Na-CMCH) were prepared by using epichlorohydrin (ECH) as a crosslinker by a chemical crosslinking method. The isolated MCC, synthesized Na-CMC, and corresponding hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) for functional groups, crystallinity, surface morphology, and composite elemental composition, respectively. Pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich models were used to investigate the adsorption kinetics. The pseudo-second-order one is favorable for both hydrogels. Freundlich, Langmuir, and Temkin adsorption isotherm models were investigated. MCCH follows the Freundlich model (R2 = 0.9967), and Na-CMCH follows the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.9974). The methylene blue (MB) dye adsorption capacities of ionic (Na-CMCH) and nonionic (MCCH) hydrogels in different contact times (up to 600 min), initial concentrations (10-50 ppm), and temperatures (298-318 K) were investigated and compared. The maximum adsorption capacity of MCCH and Na-CMCH was 23.73 and 196.46 mg/g, respectively, and the removal efficiency of MB was determined to be 26.93% for MCCH and 58.73% for Na-CMCH. The Na-CMCH efficiently removed the MB from aqueous solutions as well as spiked industrial wastewater. The Na-CMCH also remarkably efficiently reduced priority metal ions from an industrial effluent. An effort has been made to utilize inexpensive, readily available, and environmentally friendly waste materials (jute sticks) to synthesize valuable adsorbent materials.

Differential response of phenylpropanoid pathway as linked to hormonal change in two Brassica napus cultivars contrasting drought tolerance.

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) is a significant agro-economic crop with a wide range of uses. Drought is the most frequent unfavourable environmental stressor restraining its growth and development worldwide. This study was conducted to characterize the drought-responsive phenylpropanoid pathway and its link to hormonal changes in two cultivars, drought-resistant "Saturnin" and drought-susceptible "Mosa." Drought susceptibility in cv. Mosa was confirmed by its lower water use efficiency and higher lipid peroxidation levels with reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. In cv. Saturnin, higher salicylic acid (SA) levels and expression of dehydration-responsive element binding 2 (DREB2) and non-expressor of pathogenesis-related gene 1 (NPR1) led to an upregulation of production of anthocyanin pigment 1 (PAP1) and phenylpropanoid pathway-related gene (CHS, F5H and COMT1) expression, increasing hydroxycinnamic acid and flavonoid compound concentrations. However, in cv. Mosa, higher increases in the activity of lignifying enzymes (polyphenol oxidase, coniferyl alcohol peroxidase, syringaldazine peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase) and expression of the lignin synthesis-related gene cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase 2 (CAD2) were found along with greater increases in abscisic acid (ABA) levels and upregulation of ABA-responsive element binding 2 (AREB2) and basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor MYC2. These results indicate that drought-induced SA-mediated activation of the hydroxycinnamic acid and flavonoid pathways contributes to drought resistance, whereas ABA-mediated lignification contributes to drought susceptibility.

Unplanned urbanization and health risks of Dhaka City in Bangladesh: uncovering the associations between urban environment and public health.

Background: Dhaka City, the capital of Bangladesh, has experienced rapid and unplanned urbanization over the past few decades. This process has brought significant challenges to public health as the urban environment has become a breeding ground for various health risks. Understanding the associations between unplanned urbanization, the urban environment, and public health in Dhaka City is crucial for developing effective interventions and policies. Objectives: This review paper aims to uncover the associations between unplanned urbanization and health risks in Dhaka City, with a specific focus on the urban environment and its impact on public health. The objectives of this study are to examine the health challenges faced by the city's population, explore the specific urban environmental factors contributing to health risks, analyze the socioeconomic determinants of health in unplanned urban areas, evaluate existing policies and governance structures, identify research and data gaps, and provide recommendations for future interventions. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to gather relevant studies, articles, reports, and policy documents related to unplanned urbanization, the urban environment, and public health in Dhaka City. Various databases and online resources were searched, and the selected literature was critically analyzed to extract key findings and insights. Results: The findings reveal that unplanned urbanization in Dhaka City has led to a range of public health risks, including air pollution, inadequate water and sanitation, poor waste management, overcrowding, slums, and substandard housing conditions. These environmental factors are strongly associated with respiratory diseases, waterborne illnesses, and other adverse health outcomes. Socioeconomic determinants such as poverty, income inequality, and limited access to healthcare further exacerbate the health risks faced by the urban population. Conclusion: Unplanned urbanization in Dhaka City has significant implications for public health. Addressing the associations between unplanned urbanization, the urban environment, and public health requires comprehensive policies and interventions. Improved urban planning, enhanced infrastructure, and better policy governance are essential for mitigating health risks. Furthermore, addressing socioeconomic disparities and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services are crucial components of effective interventions.

Impact of mobile connectivity on students' wellbeing: Detecting learners' depression using machine learning algorithms.

Depression is a psychological state of mind that often influences a person in an unfavorable manner. While it can occur in people of all ages, students are especially vulnerable to it throughout their academic careers. Beginning in 2020, the COVID-19 epidemic caused major problems in people's lives by driving them into quarantine and forcing them to be connected continually with mobile devices, such that mobile connectivity became the new norm during the pandemic and beyond. This situation is further accelerated for students as universities move towards a blended learning mode. In these circumstances, monitoring student mental health in terms of mobile and Internet connectivity is crucial for their wellbeing. This study focuses on students attending an International University of Bangladesh to investigate their mental health due to their continual use of mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets, laptops etc.). A cross-sectional survey method was employed to collect data from 444 participants. Following the exploratory data analysis, eight machine learning (ML) algorithms were used to develop an automated normal-to-extreme severe depression identification and classification system. When the automated detection was incorporated with feature selection such as Chi-square test and Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE), about 3 to 5% increase in accuracy was observed by the method. Similarly, a 5 to 15% increase in accuracy has been observed when a feature extraction method such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed. Also, the SparsePCA feature extraction technique in combination with the CatBoost classifier showed the best results in terms of accuracy, F1-score, and ROC-AUC. The data analysis revealed no sign of depression in about 44% of the total participants. About 25% of students showed mild-to-moderate and 31% of students showed severe-to-extreme signs of depression. The results suggest that ML models, incorporating a proper feature engineering method can serve adequately in multi-stage depression detection among the students. This model might be utilized in other disciplines for detecting early signs of depression among people.

Synthesis, characterization and thermoluminescence properties of LiCaPO4 phosphor for ionizing radiation dosimetry.

Many minerals and compounds show thermoluminescence (TL) properties but only a few of them can meet the requirements of an ideal dosimeter. Several phosphate materials have been studied for low-dose dosimetryin recent times. Among the various phosphates, ABPO4-type material shows interesting TL properties. In this study, an ABPO4-type (A = Lithium, B=Calcium) phosphor is synthesized using a modified solid-state diffusion method. Temperature is maintained below 800 °C in every step of phosphor preparation to obtain the pure phase of Lithium calcium phosphate (LiCaPO4). The purpose of this work is to synthesize LiCaPO4 using a simple method, examine its structural and luminescence properties in order to gain a deeper understanding of its TL characteristics. The general TL properties, such as TL glow curve, dose linearity, sensitivity, and fading, are investigated. Additionally, this study aims to determine various kinetic parameters through Glow Curve Deconvolution (GCD) method using the Origin Lab software together with the Chen model. XRD analysis confirmed the phase purity of the phosphor with a rhombohedral structure. Lattice parameters, unit cell volume, grain size, dislocated density, and microstrain were also calculated from XRD data. Raman analysis and Fourier Transform Infrared analysis were used to collect information about molecular bonds, vibrations, identity, and structure of the phosphor. To investigate TL properties and associated kinetic parameters, the phosphor was irradiated with 6.0 MV (photon energy) and 6.0 MeV (electron energy) from a linear accelerator for doses ranging from 0.5 Gy to 6.0 Gy. For both photon and electron energy, TL glow curves have two identical peaks near 200 °C and 240 °C.The TL glow curves for 0.5 Gy-6 Gy are deconvoluted, then fitted with the appropriate model and then calculated the kinetic parameters. Kinetic parameters such as geometric factor (µg), order of kinetics, activation energy (E), and frequency factor (s) are obtained from Chen's peak shape method. The dose against the TL intensity curve shows that the response is almost linear in the investigated dose range. For photon and electron energy, the phosphor is found to be the most sensitive at 2.0 Gy and 4.0 Gy, respectively. The phosphor shows a low fading and after 28 days of exposure, it shows a signal loss of better than 3%. The studied TL properties suggest the suitability of LiCaPO4 in radiation dosimetry and associated fields.

Identification of novel proteins regulating lipid droplet biogenesis in filamentous fungi.

Lipid droplets (LDs) are storage organelles for neutral lipids which are critical for lipid homeostasis. Current knowledge of fungal LD biogenesis is largely limited to budding yeast, while LD regulation in multinucleated filamentous fungi which exhibit considerable metabolic activity remains unexplored. In this study, 19 LD-associated proteins were identified in the multinucleated species Aspergillus oryzae using a colocalization screening of a previously established enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fusion library. Functional screening identified 12 lipid droplet-regulating (LDR) proteins whose loss of function resulted in irregular LD biogenesis, particularly in terms of LD number and size. Bioinformatics analysis, targeted mutagenesis, and microscopy revealed four LDR proteins that localize to LD via the putative amphipathic helices (AHs). Further analysis revealed that LdrA with an Opi1 domain is essential for cytoplasmic and nuclear LD biogenesis involving a novel AH. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the patterns of gene evolution were predominantly based on gene duplication. Our study identified a set of novel proteins involved in the regulation of LD biogenesis, providing unique molecular and evolutionary insights into fungal lipid storage.

Molecular insight into genetic differentiation, population structure and banding pattern analysis of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea [L.] Verdc.) linked with inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR).

BACKGROUND: A set of 44 selected Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea [L.] Verdc.) accessions was sampled from 11 distinct populations of four geographical zones to assess the genetic drift, population structure, phylogenetic relationship, and genetic differentiation linked with ISSR primers. METHODS AND RESULTS: The amplification of genomic DNA with 32 ISSR markers detected an average of 97.64% polymorphism while 35.15% and 51.08% polymorphism per population and geographical zone, respectively. Analysis of molecular variance revealed significant variation within population 75% and between population 25% whereas within region 84% and between region 16%. The Bidillali exposed greater number of locally common band i.e., NLCB (≤ 25%) = 25 and NLCB (≤ 50%) = 115 were shown by Cancaraki while the lowest was recorded as NLCB (≤ 25%) = 6 and NLCB (≤ 50%) = 72 for Roko and Maibergo, accordingly. The highest PhiPT value was noted between Roko and Katawa (0.405*) whereas Nei's genetic distance was maximum between Roko and Karu (0.124). Based on Nei's genetic distance, a radial phylogenetic tree was constructed that assembled the entire accessions into 3 major clusters for further confirmation unrooted NJ vs NNet split tree analysis based on uncorrected P distance exposed the similar result. Principal coordinate analysis showed variation as PC1 (15.04%) > PC2 (5.81%). CONCLUSIONS: The current study leads to prompting the genetic improvement and future breeding program by maximum utilization and better conservation of existing accessions. The accessions under Cancaraki and Jatau are population documented for future breeding program due to their higher genetic divergence and homozygosity.

Micronutrient status during pregnancy is associated with child immune status in rural Bangladesh.

Background: Poor immune function increases children's risk of infection and mortality. Several maternal factors during pregnancy may affect infant immune function during the postnatal period. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate whether maternal micronutrients, stress, estriol, and immune status during the first or second trimester of pregnancy were associated with child immune status in the first two years after birth. Methods: We conducted observational analyses within the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) Benefits Bangladesh randomized controlled trial. We measured biomarkers in 575 pregnant women and postnatally in their children. Maternal biomarkers measured during the first and second trimester of pregnancy included nutrition status via vitamin D (25-hydroxy-D [25(OH)D]), ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), and retinol-binding protein (RBP); cortisol; estriol. Immune markers were assessed in pregnant women at enrollment and their children at ages 14 and 28 mo, including C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), and 13 cytokines (including IFN-γ). We generated a standardized sum score of log-transformed cytokines. We analyzed IFN-γ individually because it is a critical immunoregulatory cytokine. All outcomes were prespecified. We used generalized additive models and reported the mean difference and 95% confidence intervals at the 25th and 75th percentiles of exposure distribution. Results: At child age 14 mo, concentrations of maternal RBP were inversely associated with the cytokine sum score in children (-0.34 adjusted difference between the 25th and 75th percentile [95% confidence interval -0.61, -0.07]), and maternal vitamin A deficiency was positively associated with the cytokine sum score in children (1.02 [0.13, 1.91]). At child age of 28 mo, maternal RBP was positively associated with IFN-γ in children (0.07 [0.01, 0.14]), whereas maternal vitamin A deficiency was negatively associated with child AGP (-0.07 [-0.13, -0.02]). Maternal iron deficiency was associated with higher AGP concentrations in children at age 14 mo (0.13 [0.04, 0.23]), and maternal sTfR concentrations were positively associated with child CRP concentrations at age 28 mo (0.18 [0, 0.36]). Conclusion: Maternal deficiencies in vitamin A or iron during the first 2 trimesters of pregnancy may shape the trajectory of a child's immune status.