Changes of organic phosphorus in river waters in northern Bangladesh

The variability in phosphorus concentrations and the decomposition rates of organic phosphorus were measured in five selected rivers through four surveys in July and November of 2012, and February and May of 2013. After collection the water samples were incubated for 20 days in a dark incubator and the change of forms of phosphorus such as particulate organic phosphorus (POP), dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) were analyzed. By fitting the changes to two types of models, the decomposition rates of organic phosphorus were determined. The mean total organic phosphorus (TOP) decomposition rate coefficients in the studied rivers was 0.039 day-1. The average POP decomposition rate coefficient (POP?DOP?DIP model) was 0.038 day-1 while the mean DOP decomposition rate coefficient was 0.251 day-1. The decomposition rate coefficients measured in this study might be applicable for modeling of river water quality.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 5 (2): 31-36, December, 201

Biomass fuel use, burning technique and reasons for the denial of improved cooking stoves by Forest User Groups of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Bangladesh

This is an electronic version of an article published in International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 1745-2627, 18(1) 2011, 88-97. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology is available online at: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a933218896~frm=titlelinkUse of biomass fuel in traditional cooking stoves (TCS) is a long-established practice that has incomplete combustion and generates substances with global warming potential (GWP). Improved cooking stoves (ICS) have been developed worldwide as an alternative household fuel burning device, as well as a climate change mitigation. A study was conducted among female Forest User Groups (FUGs) of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Bangladesh, to assess the status of ICS disseminated by the Forest Department (FD) under the Nishorgo (2009) Support Project, along with the community's biomass fuel consumption pattern. Wood consumption was highest (345kg month-1 household-1) followed by agricultural residues (60kg month-1 household-1), tree leaves (51kg month-1 household-1) and cow dung (25kg month-1 household-1). Neighbouring forests of the sanctuary was the core source for wood fuel, with little or no reduction in the extraction even after joining the FUG. Twenty-two species, both indigenous and introduced, were preferred as wood fuel. None of the respondents were found willing to use ICS although 43% owned one; either as a status symbol or to meet the conditions of the FD for membership in FUG. Seven negative features of the disseminated ICS were identified by households, which made them unwilling to use them further. Manufacturing faults may be responsible for some ICS demerits, while the FD failed to convince the community of the benefits. A proper examination of the disseminated ICS efficacy is crucial, with active involvement of community members. The Sustainable Energy Triangle Strategy (SETS) could be implemented for this purpose. Findings of the study are of immense importance in designing a strategy for the introduction of ICS into Bangladesh.ArticleINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND WORLD ECOLOGY. 18(1):88-97 (2011)journal articl

Leveraging Rural Energy Investment for Parasitic Disease Control: Schistosome Ova Inactivation and Energy Co-Benefits of Anaerobic Digesters in Rural China

Cooking and heating remain the most energy intensive activities among the world's poor, and thus improved access to clean energies for these tasks has been highlighted as a key requirement of attaining the major objectives of the UN Millennium Development Goals. A move towards clean energy technologies such as biogas systems (which produce methane from human and animal waste) has the potential to provide immediate benefits for the control of neglected tropical diseases. Here, an assessment of the parasitic disease and energy benefits of biogas systems in Sichuan Province, China, is presented, highlighting how the public health sector can leverage the proliferation of rural energy projects for infectious disease control. ova) counted at the influent of two biogas systems were removed in the systems when adjusted for system residence time, an approximate 1-log removal attributable to sedimentation. Combined, these inactivation/removal processes underscore the promise of biogas infrastructure for reducing parasite contamination resulting from nightsoil use. When interviewed an average of 4 years after construction, villagers attributed large changes in fuel usage to the installation of biogas systems. Household coal usage decreased by 68%, wood by 74%, and crop waste by 6%. With reported energy savings valued at roughly 600 CNY per year, 2–3 years were required to recoup the capital costs of biogas systems. In villages without subsidies, no new biogas systems were implemented.Sustainable strategies that integrate rural energy needs and sanitation offer tremendous promise for long-term control of parasitic diseases, while simultaneously reducing energy costs and improving quality of life. Government policies can enhance the financial viability of such strategies by introducing fiscal incentives for joint sanitation/sustainable energy projects, along with their associated public outreach and education programs

Mechanized Cultivation Increases Labour Efficiency

Farm mechanization facilitates to increase agricultural productivity and improves farm management by replacing human labour. Therefore, mechanical intervention is a vital adaptation strategy for a sustainable rice production system. Thus, this study aims to (i) estimate the amount of mechanical in-tervention required in rice cultivation, particularly in transplanting and harvesting operation; and (ii) delineate the impact of farm mechanization on rice productivity and employment generation. The primary data were collected through a household survey and key informant interviews. These data were used for projecting rice area, labour requirement, and off-farm employment opportunities in rice cultivation. Besides, secondary data were collected from published literature. The break-even la-bour requirement per hectare rice cultivation was 2.88 work-days. Labour productivity might be doubled by 2030 subject to bringing 42% and 36% of the total rice area under mechanical transplant-ing and harvesting, respectively. The projected demands of the transplanter and combine harvester to achieve the goal are 49,172 and 28,382, respectively. The mechanized rice transplanting, weeding, and harvesting reduced labour requirement by 29, 26, and 34%, respectively, compared to the manual op-erations. Besides, mechanization meets up the demand for labour at a seasonal peak and increases rice productivity. Furthermore, it creates some off-farm (e.g., operating) and non-farm (e.g., manufac-turing, repairing, and trading) employment opportunities for operating, maintenance, fabricating, and marketing of the machinery. Syncronize farming is required for enhancing the field efficiency of the farm machine at present size and shape of plots. Besides, the synchronized farming is beneficial for providing service to the farmers at their affordable rental charge. Government assistance should continue and strengthen for the procurement of transplanters and combine harvesters. A holistic ap-proach combining the public and private intervention is essential for achieving the mechanized farm-ing goal for sustainable rice farming in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Rice J. 24 (2): 49-66, 2021</jats:p

Performance of Weeder in Mechanically Transplanted Rice Cultivation

Field performance of low land weeder was evaluated in mechanically transplanted rice fieldat Bahirbagh and Provakordi representing the silty loam soil under Gopalganj district of Bangladesh during the non-irrigated wet season (Aman) 2016. Twenty-one-day-old seedlings were transplanted by walk behind type 4-rows mechanical rice transplanter (DP480) at a pre-set spacing of 300 × 170 mm. Randomized Complete Block (RCB) design with three replications was applied with weeding practices of BRRI weeder (BW) followed by (fb) one hand weeding (HW), BRRI power weeder (BPW) fb one HW, two HW, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl (PSE) fb one HW, weedy check, weed free and mulching fb two HW (farmers’ practice) in two locations. The common weed species were observed in experimental sites. Weeding efficiency (WE) of BPW and BW was 67 and 44, respectively. Field capacity of BPW and BW was obtained 0.07 and 0.03 ha hr-1, respectively. Operator’s skill influenced the performance of weeder. During operation, BPW damaged 14-15% tillers in both the locations. However, damaged plants were revived after few days. The labour requirement in BW fb one HW, BPW fb one HW, PSE fb one HW and two HW were 380, 362, 243 and 616 man-hr ha-1 respectively. Except weedy check, weed management practices showed identical grain yield in both the locations. The BCR was accounted in PSE fb one HW (1.35), BW fb one HW (1.21), BPW fb one HW (1.20) whereas the lowest BCR was observed in weedy (0.83) and two HW (1.00). It can be concluded that pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, BRRI power weeder followed by one hand weeding and BRRI weeder followed by one hand weeding appeared as the cost effective weed control methods in mechanically transplanted Aman rice production.&#x0D; Bangladesh Rice j. 2018, 22(1): 25-34</jats:p

Efficacy of Topical Doxepin in the Treatment of Eczematous Dermatoses

An interventional study was carried out in the department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faridpur Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh from January, 2010 to June 2010 to evaluate the efficacy of topical doxepin cream in eczematous dermatoses. We included ninety three patients with moderate to severe pruritic eczematous dermatoses, in this study. Improvement of pruritus was assessed at day 3 and at day 7 by both Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Itch severity) scale (ISS). By VAS at day 3, 61.3% patients showed improvement and at day 7 improvement rate increases to 84.9%. By ISS, improvement at day 3 was 68.9%, and increased to 90.3% at day 7. Improvement was experienced by all types of eczema patients. By visual analogue scale (VAS) mean pruritus reduction at day 3 was 2.25 (± 1.93) and at day 7 was 4.30 (± 1.99). By ltch Severity Scale (ISS) mean pruritus reduction at day 3 was 3.76 (± 2.91), and at day 7 was 8.18 (± 3 42). An average of 27.27% (29.88% by VAS and 24.65% by ISS) reduction of pruritus noticed at the end of day 3 and at the end of study, response increases to 55.58% (57.10% by VAS and 54.06% by ISS) Paired sample t test was done and found that pruritus reduction was statistically significant at day 3 and day 7 both by VAS & ISS We can conclude that doxepin cream is highly effective in relieving pruritus associated with eczematous dermatoses but it has little effect on eczema itself. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmj.v41i3.18955 Bangladesh Medical Journal 2012 Vol.41(3): 28-3

Effect of Nanoparticles Concentration and Their Sizes on Surface Tension of Nanofluids

Abstract“Nanofluids”, a colloidal mixture consisting of nano-sized particles dispersed in a fluid medium with amended thermo-physical properties play a critical role in the heat transfer performance of a thermal system. Surface tension is the surface energy per unit area or the force per unit length dominates the transportation of the liquid and shows a significant role in heat transfer. However, a few numbers of studies demonstrated about the effect of surface tension of nanofluids. Thus, the present experimental study investigates the effect of nanoparticles concentration as well as the influence of variation of nanoparticles along with their sizes. The nanofluids are prepared by dispersing Al2O3(13nm and 50nm),TiO2 (21nm) and SiO2 (5∼15nm and 10∼20nm) nanoparticles in Distilled Water (DW).The traditional Du-Noüy ring method was used to measure the value of the surface tension of nanofluids by an automatic surface tensiometer (DCAT 11EC). The results show that the surface tension of the nanofluids increases with increase in concentration and nanoparticle sizes. Besides,TiO2-DW nanofluids exhibit higher surface tension than Al2O3-DW and SiO2-DW nanofluids respectively. All in all, the results indicate surface tension of the nanofluids enhances from 2.62% to 4.82% in comparison with the base fluids for concentration variation of 0.05 Vol % to 0.25 Vol % at 25°C

Morphological fruit characters and nutritional food value of different jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) cultivars in Rajshahi region of Bangladesh

Morphological fruit characters and nutritional food value of different jackfruit cultivars were studied during May to July 2012 to find out the superior ones in terms of the standard variables. The different cultivars of jackfruit were collected from Rajshahi, Natore, Noagoan and Chapai Nawabgonj. These cultivars showed variability in morphological fruit characters and nutritional food values. Among them the percentage of pulp (38.60-47.37%), percentage of rind (15.67-20.00%), percentage of skin (14.86-23.68%), percentage of seed (09.46-19.33%), moisture content (63.39-76.62%), TSS (18.80-27.37%), total sugar (11.84-17.01%), vitamin C content (17.82-31.55 mg/100gm) and acidity (0.037-0.075% as citric acid) were estimated. The findings show that, evaluation of these promising cultivars have identified them as superior ones. The data provide important information in improving the quality characteristics of jackfruit for plantation and processing industry. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v48i4.18280 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 48(4), 287-292, 2013</jats:p