Field Trial of an Automated Batch Chlorinator System at Two Shared Shallow Tubewells among Camps for Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

Chlorination of shallow tubewell water is challenging due to various iron concentrations. A mixed-method, small-scale before-and-after field trial assessed the accuracy and consistency of an automated chlorinator, Zimba, in Rohingya camp housing, Cox's Bazar. From August-September 2018, two shallow tubewells (iron concentration = 6.5 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L) were selected and 20 households were randomly enrolled to participate in household surveys and water testing. The field-team tested pre-and post-treated tubewell and household stored water for iron, free and total chlorine, and E. coli. A sub-set of households (n = 10) also received safe storage containers (5 L jerry cans). Overall mean iron concentrations were 5.8 mg/L in Zimba water, 1.9 mg/L in household storage containers, and 2.8 mg/L in the project-provided safe storage containers. At baseline, 0% samples at source and 60% samples stored in household vessels were contaminated with E. coli (mean log10 = 0.62 MPN/100 mL). After treatment, all water samples collected from source and project-provided safe storage containers were free from E. coli, but 41% of post-treated water stored in the household was contaminated with E. coli. E. coli concentrations were significantly lower in the project-provided safe storage containers (log10 mean difference = 0.92 MPN, 95% CI = 0.59-1.14) compared with baseline and post-treated water stored in household vessels (difference = 0.57 MPN, 95% CI = 0.32-0.83). Zimba is a potential water treatment technology for groundwater extracted through tubewells with different iron concentrations in humanitarian settings

Analisis Pengaruh Kepemilikan Manajerial, Kepemilikan Institusional, Dewan Komisaris, Dewan Direksi, Dan Komite Audit Terhadap Manajemen Laba (Studi Empiris Perusahaan Manufaktur di BEI Periode 2015-2019)

Earnings management is a condition of management involved in the process of preparing external financial statements aimed at gaining personal profit so as to increase and decrease profits. The existence of earnings management can be misleading when the information is used to make considerations that will eventually cause the reader to change or change his or her opinion or decision. This research aims to analyze the influence of managerial ownership, institutional ownership, board of commissioners, board of directors, and audit committee. The sample selection method uses purposive sampling at manufacturing companies registered in Indonesia Stock Exchange for the period 2015-2019. This analysis tool uses multiple linear regression analysis. The results showed that managerial ownership and audit committees had an effect on earnings management. Institutional ownership, the board of commissioners, and the board of directors have no effect on earnings management

PENGARUH CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE DAN MANAGEMENT AGENCY COST TERHADAP FINANCIAL DISTRESS (STUDI PADA PERUSAHAAN DI INDEKS SAHAM SYARIAH INDONESIA)

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh corporate governance structure dan management agency cost terhadap financial distress. Corporate governance structure yang diuji komisaris independen, kepemilikan manajerial, kepemilikan institusional serta menambahkan management agency cost. Dengan menggunakan seluruh perusahaan yang terdaftar di Indeks Saham Syariah Indonesia (ISSI) periode 2013-2015 sebagai objek penelitian. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuantitatif dan data yang digunakan adalah data sekunder. Populasi penelitian ini adalah seluruh perusahaan yang tergabung di Indeks Saham Syariah Indonesia (ISSI) periode 2013-2015. Teknik pengambilan sampel dilakukan dengan teknik purposive sampling. Berdasarkan kriteria yang telah ditetapkan, diperoleh sampel sebanyak 43 perusahaan dan didapat 129 observasi. Analisis data pada penelitian ini menggunakan analisis regresi logistik. Berdasarkan analisis data yang dilakukan dengan analisis regresi logistik, menunjukan hasil bahwa Kepemilikan institusional berpengaruh negatif terhadap financial distress. Sedangkan komisaris independen, kepemilikan manajerial, agency cost tidak berpengaruh terhadap financial distress. This research aimed to test the influence of corporate governance structure and management agency cost toward financial distress. The corporate governance structure tested by the independent commissioner, managerial ownership, institutional ownership and adding a management agency cost. By used the entire companies listed on the Indonesia Islamic Stock Index (ISSI) in the period of 2013-2015 as an object of research. Type of this research is quantitative research and the data used secondary data. The population of this research is the whole company which incorporated in Islamic Indonesia Stock Index (ISSI) in the period of 2013-2015 . The technique of sampling applied with purposive sampling technique. Based on the criteria that have been settled, achieved the samples as much as 43 companies and gained 129 observation. The analysis of the data in this study used logistic regression analysis. Builded on the analysis of the data which is employed with logistic regression analysis, the results showed that Institutional Ownership gave negative effect toward the financial distress. Despite the independent commissioner, managerial ownership, and management agency cost does not effected financial distress. Keywords: corporate governance structure, financial distress, Shariah-compliant stock

Conservation tillage and residue management improve soil health and crop productivity—Evidence from a rice-maize cropping system in Bangladesh.

The rice-maize (R-M) system is rapidly expanding in Bangladesh due to its greater suitability for diverse soil types and environments. The present conventional method of cultivating puddled transplanted rice and maize is input-intensive, decreases soil health through intense ploughing, and ultimately reduces farm profitability. There is a need to investigate alternatives. Accordingly, we conducted a replicated 2-year (2020–2021) field study to investigate the effects of conservation agriculture (CA) based tillage and crop establishment (TCE) techniques and residue management practices on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil along with crop productivity and the profitability of rice-maize systems in the sandy loam soil of Northwest Bangladesh. Two TCE techniques Puddled transplanted rice (PTR) followed by Conventional tillage maize (CTM) and strip tillage direct-seeded rice (STDSR) followed by strip-tilled maize (STM) were assigned to the main plots and different percentages of crop residue retention (0, 25, and 50% by height) were allocated to the subplots. Results showed that a reduction in bulk density (BD), soil penetration resistance (SPR), and increased soil porosity were associated with STDSR/STM-based scenarios (strip tillage coupled with 25 and 50% residue retention). The soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions, such as dissolved organic C (DOC), light and heavy particulate organic matter C (POM-C), MAOM, and microbial biomass C (MBC) levels in the 0–10 cm layer under ST based treatments were 95, 8, 6, 2 and 45% greater, respectively, compared to CT with no residue treatment. When compared to the CT treatment, the DOC, light POM-C, heavy POM-C, and MAOM in the 10–20 cm layer with ST treatment were 8, 34, 25, 4 and 37% higher, respectively. Residue retention in ST increased average rice, maize, and system yields by 9.2, 14.0, and 14.12%, respectively, when compared to CT. The system gross margin and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) were $1,515 ha−1 and 1.90 under conventional tillage to$1,696 ha−1 and 2.15 under strip-tillage practices. Thus, our study suggests that CA could be an appropriate practice for sustaining soil fertility and crop yield under R-M systems in light-textured soils or other similar soils in Bangladesh

Does health intervention improve socioeconomic inequalities of neonatal, infant and child mortality? Evidence from Matlab, Bangladesh

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although there are wide variations in mortality between developed and developing countries, socioeconomic inequalities in health exist in both the societies. The study examined socioeconomic inequalities of neonatal, infant and child mortality using data from the Matlab Health and Demographic Surveillance System of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Four birth cohorts (1983–85, 1988–90, 1993–95, 1998–00) were followed for five years for death and out-migration in two adjacent areas (ICDDR,B-service and government-service) with similar socioeconomic but differ health services. Based on asset quintiles, inequality was measured through both poor-rich ratio and concentration index.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The study found that the socioeconomic inequalities of neonatal, infant and under-five mortality increased over time in both the ICDDR,B-service and government-service areas but it declined substantially for 1–4 years in the ICDDR,B- service area.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study concluded that usual health intervention programs (non-targeted) do not reduce poor-rich gap, rather the gap increases initially but might decrease in long run if the program is very intensive.</p

Microscopy in forensic science

This chapter examines the use of electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and other analytical techniques in forensic investigation and research. These tools can be used to enhance examination of human remains and trace evidence to improve understanding of cause of death, victim identification or post mortem interval.A police-designed scenario is used to highlight trace evidence such as glass, gun shot residue and paint. The validity of forensic techniques is discussed, with reference to international standards, repeatability, and false convictions. Ballistic evidence is used to highlight the complexities in evidence interpretation, including manufacturing variability, environmental effects and likelihood ratios.The use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and other techniques in the development of forensic research is showcased, with particular examples from the field of fingerprints. Examples include improvements in the development of fingermarks from difficult surfaces, interaction of evidence types, and added intelligence from the crime scene, such as forensic timeline or gender of perpetrator

New aspects in the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of hyponatremic encephalopathy in children

Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality encountered in children. In the past decade, new advances have been made in understanding the pathogenesis of hyponatremic encephalopathy and in its prevention and treatment. Recent data have determined that hyponatremia is a more serious condition than previously believed. It is a major comorbidity factor for a variety of illnesses, and subtle neurological findings are common. It has now become apparent that the majority of hospital-acquired hyponatremia in children is iatrogenic and due in large part to the administration of hypotonic fluids to patients with elevated arginine vasopressin levels. Recent prospective studies have demonstrated that administration of 0.9% sodium chloride in maintenance fluids can prevent the development of hyponatremia. Risk factors, such as hypoxia and central nervous system (CNS) involvement, have been identified for the development of hyponatremic encephalopathy, which can lead to neurologic injury at mildly hyponatremic values. It has also become apparent that both children and adult patients are dying from symptomatic hyponatremia due to inadequate therapy. We have proposed the use of intermittent intravenous bolus therapy with 3% sodium chloride, 2 cc/kg with a maximum of 100 cc, to rapidly reverse CNS symptoms and at the same time avoid the possibility of overcorrection of hyponatremia. In this review, we discuss how to recognize patients at risk for inadvertent overcorrection of hyponatremia and what measures should taken to prevent this, including the judicious use of 1-desamino-8d-arginine vasopressin (dDAVP)