Impacts of climate change-induced natural hazards on women and their human rights implications: A study in the southwest coast of Bangladesh.

Women in coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts due to existing gender inequality and socio-cultural norms in Bangladesh. This research aims to explore the vulnerability of women to climate change-induced natural hazards, the challenges they face due to the chain impacts of climate change, and the resulting violation of women's rights. Quantitative and qualitative data were used in this study, where 260 structured questionnaire surveys and 15 Focus Group Discussions were performed at Mongla and Shyamnagar Upazilas in Bagerhat and Satkhira districts, respectively. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software, and qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The results disclose that most respondents in Mongla and Shyamnagar reported an increase in the occurrence rate of climate change-induced natural hazards, with cyclones, salinity, and riverbank erosion being the most devastating in Mongla and cyclones, salinity, and storm surges in Shyamnagar. It affects the lives and livelihoods of people, with women being particularly vulnerable due to limited access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, and women's rights are violated in these areas. Half of the study area's population has been suffering from infections or inflammation in reproductive organs, especially among fisherwomen. The findings of this study recommend that provisions for alternative livelihoods should be made for women, and all women must be brought under the umbrella of fair social safety net programs.

Anxiolytic, antidepressant and antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Canarium resiniferum leaves.

Background and aim: This study evaluated the anxiolytic, antidepressant, and antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Canarium resiniferum (MECR) leaves, and determined the total phenolic and flavonoid contents in this extract. Experimental procedure: The anxiolytic effect of MECR (100, 200, 400 mg/kg, p. o.) was tested in mice using the elevated plus-maze (EPM) test, the hole-board test (HBT), and the light-dark box (LDB) test. Its antidepressant effect was evaluated in the tail suspension (TST) and the forced swim (FST) tests. The total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) content was measured using standard colorimetric assays. Antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Results and conclusion: MECR, at all doses, showed dose-dependent anxiolytic activity. At 400 mg/kg, it significantly increased the time spent and number of entries in the open arms (EPM test), the number of head-dips (HBT), and the time spent into the light compartment (LDB) test compared to the control. In the TST and FST, MECR dose-dependently reduced the duration of immobility compared to untreated animals. This was significant for all doses except for 100 mg/kg in the FST model. MECR showed high TPC and TFC (90.94 ± 0.75 mg GAE/g and 51.54 ± 0.78 mg QE/g of dried extract, respectively) and displayed potent activity in the DPPH radical scavenging (IC50 = 177.82 µg/mL) and FRAP assays. These findings indicate that C. resiniferum has the potential to alleviate anxiety and depression disorders, which merits further exploration.

Peoples' understanding, acceptance, and perceived challenges of vaccination against COVID-19: A cross-sectional study in Bangladesh.

In order to eliminate COVID-19, many countries provided vaccinations. However, success depends on peoples' knowledge levels and rates of acceptance. But, previous research on this topic is currently lacking in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study aimed at to investigate Bangladeshi peoples' knowledge, acceptance, and perception of challenges regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Quantitative data were collected using an online survey (n = 1975) and face-to-face interviews (n = 2200) with a pre-tested structured questionnaire. In addition, seven open-ended interviews were conducted with health experts regarding challenges of vaccination. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between explanatory and dependent variables. Effect size was estimated to understand the magnitude of relationship between two variables. Of 4175 respondents, 92.6% knew about COVID-19 vaccines, while only 37.4% believed vaccines to be effective in controlling COVID-19. Nearly 46% of respondents believed that COVID-19 vaccines have side-effects, and 16.4% of respondents believed that side-effects could be life-threatening. Only 60.5% of respondents indicated that they would receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Out of 1650 respondents (39.5%) who did not intend to receive the vaccine, 948 (57.4%) believed that they would be naturally protected. Regressions results indicated that men had higher rates of knowledge regarding the vaccine. In addition, rural respondents demonstrated lower knowledge regarding the vaccine. Furthermore, education had a significant association with knowledge of COVID-19 vaccines. Respondents with university education had more knowledge regarding the vaccine (Odds ratio, OR = 29.99; 95% confidence interval, CI 11.40-78.90, effect size 1.88; p = 0.01) and correct dosage (OR 27.34; 95% CI 15.25-49.00, effect size 1.83; p = 0.01). However, women (OR 1.16; 95% CI 0.96-1.40, effect size 0.08) and rural (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.07-1.44, effect size 0.12; p = 0.01) respondents were more enthusiastic regarding receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Higher educated respondents showed higher probability of receiving the vaccine. Those who believed in the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine were 11.57 times more interested (OR 11.57; 95% CI 8.92-15.01, effect size 1.35; p = 0.01) in receiving the vaccine. Open-ended interviews identified several challenges toward successful COVID-19 vaccination. Mass awareness creation, uninterrupted supply, equitable distribution, and sectoral coordination were suggested to achieve at least 70% immunization across the country.

Antioxidant-Rich Woodfordia fruticosa Leaf Extract Alleviates Depressive-Like Behaviors and Impede Hyperglycemia.

Dhaiphul (Woodfordia fruticosa) is a frequently demanded plant in South-East Asian regions for its diverse medicinal values. This study was proposed to examine antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antidepressant potentials of methanol extract of W. fruticosa leaves (MEWF) and its derived n-hexane (NHFMEWF) and ethyl acetate (EAFMEWF) fractions through in vitro, in vivo, and computational models. Among test samples, MEWF and EAFMEWF contained the highest phenolic content and showed maximal antioxidant activity in DPPH radical scavenging and ferric reducing power assays. In comparison, NHFMEWF possessed maximum flavonoid content and a significantly potent α-amylase inhibitory profile comparable with positive control acarbose. In animal models of depression (forced swimming and tail suspension test), EAFMEWF and NHFMEWF demonstrated a dose-dependent antidepressant-like effect; explicitly, the depressive-like behaviors significantly declined in EAFMEWF-treated dosing groups in contrast to the control group. In the computational analysis, previously isolated flavonoid compounds from Dhaiphul leaves manifested potent binding affinity against several key therapeutic target proteins of diabetes and depressive disorders including α-amylase, serotonin transporter, dopamine transporter, and neuronal nitric oxide synthase with varying pharmacokinetics and toxicity profiles. This research's outcomes may provide potential dietary supplements for mitigating hyperglycemia, cellular toxicity, and depressive disorder.

Psychological and Livelihood Impacts of COVID-19 on Bangladeshi Lower Income People.

The objective of this research is to understand the psychological and livelihood-related impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Bangladeshi lower income group people who depend on daily earnings for their living. Following the convenience sampling method, 576 respondents were interviewed for quantitative data and 30 in-depth interviews for qualitative information in several districts of Bangladesh. To 94.1% respondents, livelihood has been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak with an overall score of 3.20 ± 0.77 on a 4-point Likert-type scale. In comparison to unemployed respondents, daily workers have been hardly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak (odds ratio [OR] = 7.957; P < .01), and so they are going outside more frequently in search of jobs (OR = 9.984, P < .01). Due to fear of COVID-19 infection and lack of livelihood means, respondents (76.6%) have been stressed out (overall score 3.19 ± 0.81 on a 4-point Likert-type scale), and those working in industries (OR = 5.818, P < .01), farmers (OR = 3.029, P < .05), and day laborers (OR = 2.651, P < .05) have been highly stressed.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward the novel coronavirus among Bangladeshis: Implications for mitigation measures.

The current novel coronavirus (nCoV) pandemic, COVID-19, was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has spread globally, causing startling loss of life, stalling the global economy, and disrupting social life. One of the challenges to contain COVID-19 is convincing people to adopt personal hygiene, social distancing, and self-quarantine practices that are related to knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the residents of respective countries. Bangladesh, a densely populated country with a fast-growing economy and moderate literacy rate, has shown many hiccups in its efforts to implement COVID-19 policies. Understanding KAP may help policy makers produce informed decisions. This study assessed KAP in relation to COVID-19 in Bangladesh. An online survey using a pre-tested questionnaire conducted in late March 2020 attained 1,837 responses across Bangladesh. Ultimately, 1,589 completed responses were included in a statistical analysis to calculate KAP scores and their interrelations with sociodemographic variables. The overall KAP was poor, with only 33% of the participants demonstrating good knowledge, whereas 52.4% and 44.8% of the subjects showed good attitudes and practices, respectively. Sociodemographic factors had strong bearings on the KAP scores. Significantly higher KAP scores were evident in females over males, among aged 45 years and older over younger participants, and among retired workers and homemakers over students and public service employees. This study indicated a panic fuelled by poor understanding of COVID-19 associated facts and the need for the government to ensure more granular and targeted awareness campaigns in a transparent and factual manner to foster public confidence and ensure more meaningful public participation in mitigation measures. This study provides a KAP baseline regarding COVID-19 among Bangladeshis.

Effects of spermatozoa during in vitro meiosis progression in the porcine germinal vesicle oocytes.

We have investigated the effect of co-culture with porcine spermatozoa on in vitro maturation of porcine germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes before fertilization. Most oocytes were arrested at the first prophase of meiosis when oocytes were cultured in TCM 199 alone, but the proportion of oocytes that reached metaphase II was significantly elevated by co-incubation with spermatozoa in vitro. The oocyte maturation effect was observed with intact and parts of spermatozoa (head and tail) collected from adult swine (regardless of source). However, gonocytes from the newborn porcine testis were not able to enhance in vitro maturation of porcine germinal vesicle oocytes. Interestingly, the oocyte maturation effect by spermatozoa was not decreased with heat treatment, but the maturation effect of oocyte treatment disappeared with exposure to detergent in sperm suspension. Porcine spermatozoa were also observed to stimulate meiosis of oocytes, which was maintained at meiotic arrest using dibutyryl cyclic AMP or forskolin. The study suggests that (i) membrane of porcine spermatozoa contains a substance(s) that can enhance in vitro maturation of oocytes prior to fertilization, (ii) the putative meiosis-enhancing substance(s) of spermatozoa from adult testes retains the oocyte maturation effect during transportation of spermatozoa through epididymis, and (iii) the putative meiosis-enhancing substance(s) is able to overcome the inhibitory effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP or forskolin by inducing germinal vesicle breakdown of porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes maintained in meiotic arrest.