Liquefaction of the Alluvial Soils of Bangladesh

In this paper, the potential of the often-saturated sandy soils that occur within the uppermost sub-surface stratigraphy across the Bangladesh plains to experience initial liquefaction due to seismically induced pore water pressure is evaluated. Bore hole logs from development projects were collected. Standard Penetration Test (SPT) values from the drill holes were utilized as the primary data and a widely practiced computational method was employed to estimate the liquefaction potential. The analysis of data indicated that the uppermost portion of the sandy soil layer within 20 m of the surface is loose and sensitive to liquefaction under the influence of ground shaking induced by earthquake having a peak acceleration of 0.15 g. Recommendations to control the liquefaction phenomenon in the light of the country\u27s environment are included

The effects of aluminium on some aspects of the physiology and gill histopathology of the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), in acidic water

The aims of this study were to investigate the physiological effects of aluminium in the tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), in an acidic environment and to evaluate the possible ameliorative effects of external calcium concentrations. Experiments were conducted in a flow-through exposure system employing synthetic water of precisely known composition, thus facilitating the stringent control of the chemical and physical variants in the exposure media. A pH of 5.2 at two calcium concentrations (0.6 and 16.0 mg 1‘) and a number of aluminium concentrations (0-520 pg 1‘) were selected, thus allowing the investigation of the interactive effects of calcium and aluminium in the imanifestations of toxic actions. Both short-term (4 days) and chronic (21 days) exposure schedules were followed. A series of experiments was carried out to investigate aluminium-induced changes in plasma and tissue concentrations of Na"^, K*, Ca** and Mg^^, and plasma glucose and total protein concentrations, and plasma osmolality. Changes in blood haematocrit levels and haemoglobin concentrations were also measured. Concentration-dependent responses were observed in most of the parameters. Plasma sodium, and tissue sodium and potassium concentrations decreased with a concomitant decline in plasma osmolality, while, in general, plasma potassium and calcium concentrations increased. Plasma glucose levels were greatly elevated by acid/aluminium exposure. Both blood haematocrit levels and haemoglobin concentrations were raised, accompanied by a marked swelling of erythrocytes. Qualitatively similar results were observed in both short-term and chronic exposure experiments. However, responses were modified (both qualitatively and quantitatively) with exposure time during chronic exposures. Increased calcium concentrations in die exposure media reduced or abolished acid/aluminium- induced changes in the majority of the parameters and were particularly effective in reducing ion loss from die body. The manifestation and magnitude of a particular response was clearly dependent upon aluminium and calcium concentrations in the exposure media and duration of the exposure

Inter-Code Comparison of Computational VERA Depletion Benchmark Using OpenMC, OpenMC-ONIX and DRAGON

This research focuses on the comparative analysis of the PWR fuel assembly based on VERA depletion benchmark problems using community-developed open source Monte Carlo code OpenMC, python based burnup code system ONIX (a coupling interface for Monte Carlo code OpenMC), and deterministic DRAGON code. The depletion analysis was performed using OpenMC and ONIX with ENDF/B-VII.1 nuclear data library, and DRAGON with SHEM-361 based DRAGLIB format library (ENDF/B-VII.1). The code-to-code analysis on the evolution of , atom number density, and power distribution as a function of burnup has been performed and the result shows a good agreement with the maximum difference within 200 pcm at EOC. However small discrepancy around 90 pcm has been observed in  calculated by DRAGON compared to OpenMC in the presence of integral fuel burnable absorbers (IFBA). The above-mentioned codes have been validated successfully for the first time against PWR fuel assembly based on VERA depletion benchmark problems. It can be concluded that initial implementation of these codes at the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering under Military Institute of Science and Technology, Dhaka, was successful and that further research works are to be performed to utilize these codes for depletion/neutronics calculation of existing 3MW TRIGA Mark-II research reactor and VVER-type power reactor that is to be commissioned in Bangladesh

Rearing of catfish (Clarias batrachus Lin.) larvae with live and prepared feeds

Provision or live feed (Tubificid worms) attributed significantly better weight gain in the five days old Clarias batrachus larvae when reared for another 28 days compared to those fed mixed feed (live and artificial) and artificial feed only. Larvae fed mixed feed showed significantly better weight gain compared to those fed only artificial feed and the survival rate was similar to those fed only live feed. Both the weight gain and survival rate were the lowest for the larvae reared only on artificial feed

Classical Flt3L-dependent dendritic cells control immunity to protein vaccine

DCs are critical for initiating immunity. The current paradigm in vaccine biology is that DCs migrating from peripheral tissue and classical lymphoid-resident DCs (cDCs) cooperate in the draining LNs to initiate priming and proliferation of T cells. Here, we observe subcutaneous immunity is Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) dependent. Flt3L is rapidly secreted after immunization; Flt3 deletion reduces T cell responses by 50%. Flt3L enhances global T cell and humoral immunity as well as both the numbers and antigen capture capacity of migratory DCs (migDCs) and LN-resident cDCs. Surprisingly, however, we find immunity is controlled by cDCs and actively tempered in vivo by migDCs. Deletion of Langerin+ DC or blockade of DC migration improves immunity. Consistent with an immune-regulatory role, transcriptomic analyses reveals different skin migDC subsets in both mouse and human cluster together, and share immune-suppressing gene expression and regulatory pathways. These data reveal that protective immunity to protein vaccines is controlled by Flt3Ldependent, LN-resident cDCs

Equity market contagion during global financial and Eurozone crises: Evidence from a dynamic correlation analysis

The devastation resulting from the recent global financial and Eurozone crises is immense. Most researchers commonly believe that the global financial crisis originated in the United States, and spread immediately to global financial hubs where it eventually became the Eurozone crisis. Several studies have been conducted on financial market contagion during both global and Eurozone crises; however, the issue of whether equity market contagion spreads from the United States to the world equity markets during these crises has not been addressed yet. Through using US dollar-denominated MSCI daily indices from fifty-five equity markets for the period 2003–2013, we have found evidence of contagion in developed and emerging markets during the global and Eurozone crises. We show that contagion spread from the United States to the world markets during both crises. Our regression results identify that the bank risk transfer between the United States and other countries is the key transmission channel for cross-country correlations. This study has an important policy implication for portfolio diversification between the United States and other countries during these crises

New Insights into Bank Asset Securitization: The Impact of Religiosity

We examine the influence of both organizational and geographical religiosity, as important ethical parameters moderating a bank’s decision to securitize their assets. The study employs a unique database of banks located within countries marked by high (low) religious adherence. Our results provide evidence that different measures of religiosity affect a bank’s decision to securitize their assets: Banks located in countries with high religious adherence are less likely to engage with securitization compared to banks in countries with lower religiosity, while Islamic banks have a higher likelihood of embarking on a highly monitored model of asset securitization in contrast to conventional banks. When examining the motives underlying a bank’s decision to securitize assets, there is strong evidence that Islamic banks securitize their assets to improve their portfolio diversification, financial performance, and regulatory compliance. This study highlights the importance of considering informal ethical mechanisms, such as religiosity, at both the country and firm levels, when studying bank risk-taking and trading decisions, especially in countries with dual banking systems

Erratum: Flt3L dependence helps define an uncharacterized subset of murine cutaneous dendritic cells

[No abstract available

Flt3L dependence helps define an uncharacterized subset of murine cutaneous dendritic cells

Skin-derived dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells with critical roles in both adaptive immunity and tolerance to self. Skin DCs carry antigens and constitutively migrate to the skin-draining lymph nodes (LNs). In mice, Langerin-CD11b- dermal DCs are a low-frequency, heterogeneous, migratory DC subset that traffics to LNs (Langerin-CD11b- migDCs). Here, we build on the observation that Langerin-CD11b- migDCs are Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) dependent and strongly Flt3L responsive, which may relate them to classical DCs. Examination of DC capture of FITC from painted skin, DC isolation from skin explant culture, and from the skin of CCR7 knockout mice, which accumulate migDCs, demonstrate these cells are cutaneous residents. Langerin-CD11b- Flt3L-responsive DCs are largely CD24(+) and CX 3 CR1 low and can be depleted from Zbtb46-DTR mice, suggesting classical DC lineage. Langerin-CD11b- migDCs present antigen with equal efficiency to other DC subsets ex vivo, including classical CD8α cDCs and Langerin+CD103+ dermal DCs. Finally, transcriptome analysis suggests a close relationship with other skin DCs, and a lineage relationship with other classical DCs. This work demonstrates that Langerin- CD11b- dermal DCs, a previously overlooked cell subset, may be an important contributor to the cutaneous immune environment

Limnology of Chanda beel

A limno-biological investigation was conducted in Chanda beel over a period of 8 months from June ‘95 to January ‘96. The floodplain showed temporal spatial and vertical variation in physico-chemical as well as biological conditions. During study period, physico-chemical parameters were within the suitable range for fish culture. Plankton population was higher in true beel areas. Both phytoplankton and zooplankton showed direct relationship among themselves. Presence of several indication plankton genera showed that the floodplain was eutrophic in nature