YIELD AND QUALITY OF JUTE SEED AS INFLUENCED BY VARIETY AND STAGE OF POD MATURITY IN LATE SOWN CONDITION

A Thesis submitted to the Institute of Seed Technology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE (MS) IN SEED TECHNOLOGY SEMESTER: JANUARY-JUNE, 2018The research work was conducted at the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka during the period from August, 2017 to December, 2017 to study the yield and quality of jute seed as influenced by variety and stage of pod maturity in late sown condition. Two factors viz. Factor A, three jute varieties; V 1 (O-9897), V 2 (BJRI Tossa Pat-5) and V 3 (BJRI Tossa Pat-6) and Factor B, three stages of pod maturity; M 1 (About 40% pods of the plant become brown), M 2 (About 60% pods of the plant become brown) and M 3 (About 80% pods of the plants become brown) were considered for the experiment. The experiment consisting of 9 treatment combinations and laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The result revealed that variety V 1 (O-9897) showed the highest seed yield (937.33 kgha -1 ) which might be attributed to the highest number of pods plant -1 (22.57), number of seeds pod -1 (176.27) and weight of seeds pod (0.37g). This variety also produced the tallest plant (163.52 cm) and number of branches plant (2.61). Among the harvesting at different pod maturity stages, crop harvested at 60% pod maturity stage (M 2 ) showed the maximum seed yield (962.40 kgha ) which might perhaps the highest number of pods plant -1 (23.22), pod length (6.46 cm), pod diameter (5.66 mm), number of seeds pod -1 (180.02), weight of seeds pod -1 (0.39 g) and weight of 1000 seed (1.99 g) in this treatment. Interaction of V 1 M 2 (Variety O-9897 with 60% pod maturity stage) gave the highest seed yield (1040.80 kgha -1 ) along with the highest number of pods plant -1 -1 -1 (24.97), pod diameter (5.87 mm) and number of seeds pod (185.50). Considering seed quality, variety V 2 (About 60% pods become brown) and interaction of V 2 -1 (BJRI Tossa Pat-5), pod maturity stage M 2 M 2 (BJRI Tossa Pat-5 with 60% pods become brown) gave the best quality of seed in jute. This interaction gave the highest germination (97.0%), seedling length (4.02 cm), seed vigor index (10.26) and oven dry weight of seedling (51.28 mg). -

Clinical and laboratory profile of patients with disorders of sex development: Experience from two tertiary care hospitals in Bangladesh

Disorders of sex development (DSD) are relatively rare conditions where gender assignment remains uncertain, presented with ambiguous genitalia in newborns, and atypical sex development in adolescents. Management remains a challenge for all professionals involved and largely depends on the participatory factors responsible for the causation of the disorders. Patients and Methods: All patients with the complaint of atypical features of sex development, attending the pediatric endocrine unit of two tertiary level hospitals in Dhaka city, in a period of 24 months from May 2017 to May 2019 were incorporated in this study and their clinical, hormonal and cytogenetic findings have been documented. Results: Among 77 DSD patients under this study, there were 43 (55.84%) 46, XX DSD cases, 30 (38.96%) 46, XY DSD cases, and 4 (5.19%) sex chromosome DSD cases. The age of presentation ranged from 0 days to 19 years with a mean of 2.29±4.2 years. Only 16.9% of the cases presented in their neonatal period. Almost all (98.7%) patients featured genital ambiguity. Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) had been found in all of the 46, XX DSD cases and in 1 sex chromosome DSD case. Among the patients with 46, XY DSD, 5 patients had PAIS (Partial Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome), 5 patients had CAIS (Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome), 3 patients had 5αRD (5α Reductase Deficiency) and 5 patients had GD (Gonadal Dysgenesis). The gender of rearing was male in 25 (32.5%) cases and female in 52 (67.5%) cases. During the study period, 12 (15.58%) patients had undergone surgical intervention, 35 (45.54%) patients had been referred for surgery, 36(46.8%) patients were under hormonal therapy, and for 2 (2.6%) patient’s operation had been planned. Conclusions: As according to the finding of this study, AIS was the most common etiological findings among 46, XY DSD cases, and CAH was exclusively present among all 46, XX DSD cases

Prehypertension and hypertension among the medical students of public medical colleges in Dhaka, Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

Background: Prehypertension and hypertension are the leading risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and are increasingly prevalent among young adults. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension among medical students of public medical colleges in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done among 293 medical students of four public medical colleges in Dhaka city. Data on age, sex, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, height, weight, and blood pressure were obtained. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 120–139 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 80–89 mmHg was considered prehypertensive, while SBP ≥140 mmHg or DBP ≥90 mmHg was classified as hypertensive. Results: The average age was 21.6 years. More than one-fourth (28.0%) were prehypertensive, and 4.8% were hypertensive. Multinomial logistic regression identified male sex (adjusted odds ratio, 4.6; 95% confidence interval, 2.5–8.3) and overweight (aOR 2.0; 95% CI 1.1–3.5) as the risk factors of prehypertension. For hypertension, the risk factors were male sex (aOR 9.7; 95% CI 2.3–42.0), ever alcohol consumption (aOR 18.0; 95% CI 1.3–249.8), and overweight (aOR 6.6; 95% CI 1.3–32.6). Conclusion: We report that one-third of the medical students have prehypertension and hypertension. Overweight and alcohol consumers should be considered for targeted intervention

Exploring EFL teachers' perception on readiness to use smartphones for teaching oral English communication skills at tertiary level1

This study aims to examine the EFL teachers' perception of their readiness to use different smartphone applications for teaching oral skills at the tertiary level in Bangladesh and compares this to the relevant demographic factors. To reach these objectives, a mixed method research design was implemented. A survey questionnaire was answered by 46 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers from twelve different universities in Bangladesh and a semistructured interview was conducted with five of these teachers. The results showed that these EFL teachers had a high degree of readiness to use smartphones for teaching oral skills. The teachers agreed that smartphones could help them to deal with the problems like a large class size, a lack of authentic materials, learners' inactiveness, as well as a lack of an oral practice environment inside and outside the classroom. Moreover, there was no statistically significant relationship between the EFL teachers' demographics and their readiness to use a smartphone. The results suggest that smartphone applications have certain potentials/benefits for the university teachers, and that a smartphonebased teaching method for developing EFL learners' oral skills should be promoted in an EFL context like Bangladesh.This study aims to examine the EFL teachers' perception of their readiness to use different smartphone applications for teaching oral skills at the tertiary level in Bangladesh and compares this to the relevant demographic factors. To reach these objectives, a mixed method research design was implemented. A survey questionnaire was answered by 46 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers from twelve different universities in Bangladesh and a semistructured interview was conducted with five of these teachers. The results showed that these EFL teachers had a high degree of readiness to use smartphones for teaching oral skills. The teachers agreed that smartphones could help them to deal with the problems like a large class size, a lack of authentic materials, learners' inactiveness, as well as a lack of an oral practice environment inside and outside the classroom. Moreover, there was no statistically significant relationship between the EFL teachers' demographics and their readiness to use a smartphone. The results suggest that smartphone applications have certain potentials/benefits for the university teachers, and that a smartphonebased teaching method for developing EFL learners' oral skills should be promoted in an EFL context like Bangladesh

Multidrug resistant clinical strains isolated from tracheal aspirates of patients in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Background: Antimicrobial resistance poses a major threat in the treatment of respiratory disease especially in developing countries like Bangladesh. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria along with extremely drug resistant (XDR) bacteria have emerged as major clinical and therapeutic dilemma in the treatment of tracheal infections here. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess multidrug resistance among clinical strains isolated from tracheal aspirates of patients in Dhaka, Bangladesh.Methods: Total 200 clinical isolates from tracheal aspirates were identified and their antibiotic susceptibility profiles were evaluated by using the VITEK 2 system following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Patient information on diagnosis, sex, age was obtained from hospital data.Results: Of 200 clinical isolates obtained, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent pathogens (30.5%) followed by Acinetobacter baumannii (29%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (22.5%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (7.5%), Escherichia coli (5%), Staphylococcus aureus (2%), Proteus spp (1.5%), Enterobacter spp (1%), Citrobacter spp (0.5%), Providencia spp (0.5%). Of 20 different antibiotics tested, highest number of isolates (86%) showed resistance to third generation cephalosporin cefixime, however least number of isolates showed resistance to polymixin antibiotics- colistin (12.5%) and polymixin B (6%). Tracheal infection was found to be more prevalent in males rather than in females although this difference was not statistically significant. The prevalence of infections was highest among the patients of age-group (old adults) ≥60 years (61.5%). Of 200 clinical isolates, 43 (21.5%) were XDR and 125 (62.5%) were MDR bacteria. Of 200 clinical isolates, the synthesis of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) and carbepenemase were detected in 59 (29.5%) and 98 (49%) strains respectively.Conclusions: Tracheal infections caused by β-lactamase producing MDR and XDR pathogens among patients are high in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Therefore, there is an urgent need for constant surveillance and interventions in Bangladesh in order to prevent further spreading of those resistant organisms

Food Safety Challenges towards Safe, Healthy, and Nutritious Street Foods in Bangladesh

The street foods play an important socioeconomic role in meeting food and nutritional requirements of city consumers at affordable prices to the lower and middle income people. The number of food poisoning notifications rose steadily worldwide since the inception of E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in the 1980s to date. This may be partly attributed to improved surveillance, increased global trade and travel, changes in modern food production, the impact of modern lifestyles, changes in food consumption, and the emergence of new pathogens. Consumer’s knowledge and attitude may influence food safety behavior and practice. For the sake of public health, it is important to understand the epidemiology of foodborne illnesses that help in prevention and control efforts, appropriately allocating resources to control foodborne illness, monitoring and evaluation of food safety measures, development of new food safety standards, and assessment of the cost-effectiveness of interventions. This review paper described the sociodemographic characteristics, common hazards, and occupational hazards of street food vendors, microbial risk associated with street food, food safety interventions and control measures, regulatory aspects and legal requirements, financial constraints, and attitudes

Vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnancy and its association with maternal and fetal outcomes

Background: Pregnancy is a unique physiological state characterized by profound changes in a woman's body to support fetal growth and development. Adequate nutrition is vital during pregnancy to meet the increased demands of both the mother and the developing fetus. Among the various nutrients required during pregnancy, vitamin B12 stands out as a critical micronutrient. It plays a pivotal role in cellular replication, neurodevelopment, and the synthesis of DNA, making it essential for the proper growth and development of the fetus. This study was conducted to evaluate vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnancy and its association with maternal and fetal outcomes.  Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among consecutively selected pregnant women who had just given birth to a single live baby admitted to the department of obstetrics and gynecology and also the department of feto-maternal medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib medical university (BSMMU), Shahbagh, Dhaka from September 2022 to August 2023. A total of 90 women of 18-40 years of age at their 28-40 weeks of gestation were included in this study. Study subjects with vitamin B12 levels of <200 pg/ml were considered as the low level (group I), whereas level ≥200 pg/ml was considered as the normal (group II). Observations were undertaken on pregnancy complications and perinatal outcomes, which were compared between the two groups. Results: The study revealed majority (57.8%) of the study participants age were within 26-34 years, a housewife was 74.4% and multigravida constituted 70.0% of the respondents. The 31 (34.4%) of the respondents had vitamin B12 level below 200 pg/mL and 59 (65.60%) women had normal serum vitamin B12 levels (≥200 pg/mL). Congenital hydrocephalus was observed in 16.1% of the group I mothers compared to only 1.7% in group II (p=0.017) and neural tube defect was present in 9.7% of group I but in none of group II mothers (p=0.038).  Conclusions: Mothers having vitamin B12 deficiency experience significantly higher rates of oligohydramnios, fetal hydrocephalus, and neural tube defects compared to those with normal vitamin B12 levels. However, there was no significant maternal complication

Comparative Analysis of Craniofacial Parameters in Thalassemic Patients and Non-Thalassemic Individuals across Both Sexes in Chattogram, Bangladesh

Introduction: Thalassemia is a haematologic disorder impairing craniofacial development in inadequately treated patients. Research on craniofacial parameters in Bangladeshi thalassemic population comparing to non-thalassemics is scarce. This study aimed to determine the differences in craniofacial parameters if any between thalassemic patients and non-thalassemic individuals in Chattogram, Bangladesh across both sexes. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was carried out among 100 respondents (50 transfusion dependent thalassemia patients and 50 non-thalassemic healthy individuals) of 5-30 years during 2020 in Chittagong Medical College, Bangladesh. To measure 10 key craniofacial parameters (head circumference, 6 horizontal and 3 vertical) in cranial, facial, nasal and orbital zones, digital slide caliper and tape were used. To test statistical significance Mann-Whitney U test and unpaired student’s t-test were done as appropriate. Results: The face height of non-thalassemic males was higher than that of thalassemia patients and this was significant (p = 0.027), the intercanthal distance in male with thalassemia showed high significant difference (p= 0.024). When compared to their non-thalassemic peers, thalassemic females patients were observed with significantly larger head circumference (p = 0.025) and head width (p = 0.031). There were differences between the groups in other craniofacial parameters but statistically non-significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Distinct differences in craniofacial parameters between thalassemic and non-thalassemic individuals are highlighted which emphasize the impact of thalassemia on craniofacial development, with potential implications for clinical management in thalassemic patients in Bangladesh. Further research is recommended to explore these differences' underlying mechanisms and broader inferences. Update Dent. Coll. j: 2025; 15(1): 9-1

ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANTINOCICEPTIVE ACTIVITY EVALUATION OF ‘KHOYER’ PREPARED FROM BOILING THE WOOD OF ACACIA CATECHU IN WATER

‘Khoyer’ is prepared by boiling the wood of Acacia catechu in water and then evaporating the resultant brew. The resultant hard material is powdered and chewed with betel leaves and lime with or without tobacco by a large number of the people of Bangladesh as an addictive psycho-stimulating and euphoria-inducing formulation. There are folk medicinal claims that khoyer helps in the relief of pain and is also useful to diabetic patients to maintain normal sugar levels. Thus far no scientific studies have evaluated the antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive effects of khoyer. The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible glucose tolerance efficacy of methanolic extracts of khoyer using glucose-induced hyperglycemic mice, and antinociceptive effects with acetic acid-induced gastric pain models in mice. In antihyperglycemic activity tests, the extract at different doses was administered one hour prior to glucose administration and blood glucose level was measured after two hours of glucose administration (p.o.) using glucose oxidase method. The statistical data indicated the significant oral hypoglycemic activity on glucose-loaded mice at all doses of the extracts tested. Maximum anti-hyperglycemic activity was shown at 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which was slightly less than that of a standard drug, glibenclamide (10 mg/kg body weight). In antinociceptive activity tests, the extract also demonstrated a dose-dependent significant reduction in the number of writhings induced in mice through intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid. Maximum antinociceptive activity was observed at a dose of 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which was greater than that of a standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at a dose of 400 mg per kg body weight. The results validate the folk medicinal use of the plant for reduction of blood sugar in diabetic patients as well as the folk medicinal use for alleviation of pain