Chemically fueled dynamic switching between assembly-encoded emissions.

Self-assembly provides access to non-covalently synthesized supramolecular materials with distinct properties from a single building block. However, dynamic switching between functional states still remains challenging, but holds enormous potential in material chemistry to design smart materials. Herein, we demonstrate a chemical fuel-mediated strategy to dynamically switch between two distinctly emissive aggregates, originating from the self-assembly of a naphthalimide-appended peptide building block. A molecularly dissolved building block shows very weak blue emission, whereas, in the assembled state (Agg-1), it shows cyan emission through π stacking-mediated excimer emission. The addition of a chemical fuel, ethyl-3-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)carbodiimide (EDC), converts the terminal aspartic acid present in the building block to an intra-molecularly cyclized anhydride in situ forming a second aggregated state, Agg-2, by changing the molecular packing, thereby transforming the emission to strong blue. Interestingly, the anhydride gets hydrolyzed gradually to reform Agg-1 and the initial cyan emission is restored. The kinetic stability of the strong blue emissive aggregate, Agg-2, can be regulated by the added concentration of the chemical fuel. Moreover, we expand the scope of this system within an agarose gel matrix, which allows us to gain spatiotemporal control over the properties, thereby producing a self-erasable writing system where the chemical fuel acts as the ink.

Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation in the Resource-Limited Setting: Establishing the First Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit in Bangladesh.

PURPOSE: Treatment of malignant and nonmalignant hematologic diseases with hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) was first described almost 60 years ago, and its use has expanded significantly over the last 20 years. Whereas HSCT has become the standard of care for many patients in developed countries, the significant economic investment, infrastructure, and health care provider training that are required to provide such a service have prohibited it from being widely adopted, particularly in developing countries. METHODS: Over the past two decades, however, efforts to bring HSCT to the developing world have increased, and several institutions have described their efforts to establish such a program. We aim to provide an overview of the current challenges and applications of HSCT in developing countries as well as to describe our experience in developing an HSCT program at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital in Bangladesh via a partnership with health care providers at Massachusetts General Hospital. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: We discuss key steps of the program, including the formation of a collaborative partnership, infrastructure development, human resource capacity building, and financial considerations.

Pattern of Injuries and Treatment Given to Victims of Rana Plaza Tragedy in a Level II Armed Forces Medical Facility in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Rana Plaza building collapse is the worst industrial disaster of Bangladesh so far. The 9-storied structure collapsed suddenly on April 24, 2013, with more than 4000 people inside. Bangladesh Armed Forces played a key role in the massive rescue operations. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 423 victims who were treated at a Combined Military Hospital to review the pattern of injuries and management provided. RESULTS: Middle-aged (35±12.75 years) females (68.32%) were the majority of the victims. Among the injured, 42.35% had soft tissue injury, 22.55% had abrasions, 18.79% had fractures, 3.75% had facial injuries, and 2.5% each had head and abdominal injuries. We treated the injured with various surgical approaches, such as soft tissue debridement (38.84%), fasciotomy (18.79%), amputation (3.75%), and other procedures. We had to refer 8.27% of the patients to different advanced centers. The mortality rate was 5.91%, including 1 volunteer rescuer. CONCLUSION: Pattern of injuries and modalities of management needed in an industrial disaster is a valuable experience which can be utilized in preparing to face disasters in the future and beyond. Death of a voluntary rescuer once again warrants the necessity of using a helmet and safety gear during any rescue operation. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:21-24).

Effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens as a probiotic strain on growth performance, cecal microflora, and fecal noxious gas emissions of broiler chickens.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens probiotic (BAP) as a direct-fed microbial on growth performance, cecal microflora, serum immunoglobulin levels, and fecal noxious gas emissions of broiler chickens. A total of 400 one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatment diets formulated to supply 0, 1, 5, 10, and 20 g/kg of BAP and were fed for 35 d. Each treatment had 8 replicate pens with 10 birds per replicate. On completion of the growth trial, fecal samples were collected, and ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissions were measured. Increasing concentration of BAP had positive linear effect on the ADG of broilers (P < 0.05) throughout the experimental period, with the highest values being observed in broilers offered 20 g/kg of BAP. The ADFI increased linearly (P < 0.02) with the inclusion of BAP during the overall experimental period (d 0 to 35). Providing BAP had a negative linear effect on FCR from d 0 to 21 and d 0 to 35 (P < 0.01). Supplementation with BAP did not affect cecal Lactobacillus and Bacillus content, but exerted negative linear effect on cecal Escherichia coli (P < 0.05) with increasing the level of BAP in broiler diets. Additionally, BAP modified immune response of broilers by linearly increasing serum IgG and IgA (P < 0.01). Dietary BAP resulted in decreased fecal NH3 emissions at 0 (linear, P < 0.001), 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h of incubation (linear, P < 0.05; quadratic, P < 0.01). Supplementation of BAP exerted negative linear and quadratic effects on fecal emissions of H2S (P < 0.001) throughout the incubation period except at 48 h, and the optimum effect was found when BAP was provided at 5 g/kg of diet. Based on these results, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens could be suggested as a potential feed additive of broiler diets.

Lead poisoning: an alarming public health problem in Bangladesh.

To assess the risk of lead poisoning among preschool and school-aged children in Bangladesh, 345 children were screened for blood lead levels (BLLs) from one rural and two urban areas in Bangladesh from September 2007 through January 2008. An urban industrial area at Tongi was identified as a disaster area, where 99% (104/105) of those tested had BLLs >or= 10 microg/dL. Industrial emissions and use of leaded gasoline by two-stroke engine vehicles were identified as possible sources of lead in that area. A rural nonindustrial area at Chirirbandar, Dinajpur was identified as another high-risk area, where 14% of the children screened had BLLs >or= 10 microg/dL. BLLs at the urban industrial area were significantly higher than those at the rural and urban nonindustrial areas (24.58 +/- 10.32, 7.24 +/- 6.31, and 2.47 +/- 3.32 microg/dL, respectively; p <0.001). Weight-for-age z-scores of the urban children were significantly lower than that of the rural children (-1.41 +/- 1.88 vs. 0.20 +/- 1.16, p <0.001). Children with elevated BLLs had poorer nutritional status (p = 0.05) than those with normal BLLs. Over 90% of the parents did not know that lead causes health problems. In conclusion, the problem of lead poisoning in children was found to be high in both urban and rural Bangladesh. A universal lead screening for preschool and school-aged children and a lead education program for parents are recommended for implementation in Bangladesh.