Characterization of inter-seasonal climatic variability through dry-season rice productivity in the north-west region of Bangladesh

Inter-annual climatic variability in Bangladesh is significant and the probability of occurrence of extreme episodic/ climatic events has increased in the last couple of decades and thus threatening food security. Impact of inter-seasonal climatic va riability on Boro rice (dry season) yield in north-western parts of Bangladesh was analyzed using the historic weather datasets for 1971 to 2010 and MAKESENS model. Boro rice yield increased from 1980 onwards and the growth rate picked up with time. Inter-annual and inter-seasonal climatic variability was noticed through maximum and minimum temperatures, rainfall and sunshine hours. In general, temperatures and rainfall showed increasing trends but sunshine hours were decreasing gradually during the study period. Growth rates in average annual maximum, minimum and mean air temperatures were 0.001, 0.016 and 0.009°C year-1, respectively. On regional scale, Boro-rice seasonal maximum temperature was decreasing by 0.013°C year-1 but minimum and mean temperatures were increasing by 0.024 and 0.006°C year-1, respectively. Annual average sunshine hours in the study location were in decreasing trend by 0.027 hr year-1, but reduction in seasonal sunshine hours was 0.035 hr year-1. Inter-seasonal climatic variability was characterized through the Boro-rice yields in four test regions of north-west region of Bangladesh. Trend line equations were evolved for assessing the impact of climatic variations on Bororice yield. If maximum temperature changes by 1oC, Boro rice yield could be increased by 0.13 t ha-1, but it would reduce by 0.34 t ha-1 with one degree rise in minimum temperature. If sunshine hour decreases by 1 hr, Boro rice yield would decrease by 0.70 t ha-1 in study locations. Combined effects of maximum and minimum temperatures and sunshine hours showed significant influence on grain yields of Boro rice. These imply that temperature tolerant and solar radiation use-efficient rice varieties need to be bred for combating climate change impact in Bangladesh. There is a need to identify optimum sowing/transplanting window for the region, choice of suitable cultivars/ideo-types, and adoption of appropriate water and nutrients management strategies and adoption of appropriate resource conservation technologies for sustainable Boro rice production in Bangladesh

Multi-modal neuroprotection of Argemone mexicana L. against Alzheimer's disease: In vitro and in silico study.

Argemone mexicana L. is a medicinal plant, but its impact on Alzheimer's disease (AD) is right now undetermined. We intended to investigate the in-vitro anti-AD potential of leaves and flowers of A. mexicana methanol, ethanol, and ethyl extracts and to identify multi-modal anti-AD phytochemicals by computational approaches. Molecular docking of 196 phytochemicals identified three hit phytochemicals (protoberberine, protopine, and codeine) with higher binding affinity and multi-targeting ability toward AChE, BChE, BACE-1, and GSK-3β. Further MM-GBSA assays confirmed the integrity of these phytochemicals as the hit phytochemicals. However, these phytochemicals demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetics (PK) and drugable properties having no toxicity. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the binding strength of the hit phytoconstituents in the active pockets of AChE, BChE, BACE-1, and GSK-3β with multi-targeting inhibitory activities. All the extracts exhibited dose-dependent antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activities supporting the in silico results in the context of oxidative stress and cholinergic pathways. Our results offer scientific validation of the anti-AD properties of Argemone mexicana L. and identified protoberberine, protopine, and codeine that could be used for the development of multi-modal inhibitors of AChE, BChE, BACE-1, and GSK-3β to combat AD. Additional in vivo validation is recommended to ensure a thorough assessment in the present research

Compliance of smokeless tobacco supply chain actors and products with tobacco control laws in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan: protocol for a multicentre sequential mixed-methods study

Introduction: South Asia is home to more than 300 million smokeless tobacco (ST) users. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan as signatories to the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) have developed policies aimed at curbing the use of tobacco. The objective of this study is to assess the compliance of ST point-of-sale (POS) vendors and the supply chain with the articles of the FCTC and specifically with national tobacco control laws. We also aim to assess disparities in compliance with tobacco control laws between ST and smoked tobacco products. Methods and analysis: The study will be carried out at two sites each in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. We will conduct a sequential mixed-methods study with five components: (1) mapping of ST POS, (2) analyses of ST samples packaging, (3) observation, (4) survey interviews of POS and (5) in-depth interviews with wholesale dealers/suppliers/manufacturers of ST. We aim to conduct at least 300 POS survey interviews and observations, and 6-10 in-depth interviews in each of the three countries. Data collection will be done by trained data collectors. The main statistical analysis will report the frequencies and proportions of shops that comply with the FCTC and local tobacco control policies, and provide a 95% CI of these estimates. The qualitative in-depth interview data will be analysed using the framework approach. The findings will be connected, each component informing the focus and/or design of the next component. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approvals for the study have been received from the Health Sciences Research Governance Committee at the University of York, UK. In-country approvals were taken from the National Bioethics Committee in Pakistan, the Bangladesh Medical Research Council and the Indian Medical Research Council. Our results will be disseminated via scientific conferences, peer-reviewed research publications and press releases

Effects of alirocumab on types of myocardial infarction: insights from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial

Aims  The third Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (MI) Task Force classified MIs into five types: Type 1, spontaneous; Type 2, related to oxygen supply/demand imbalance; Type 3, fatal without ascertainment of cardiac biomarkers; Type 4, related to percutaneous coronary intervention; and Type 5, related to coronary artery bypass surgery. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction with statins and proprotein convertase subtilisin–kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors reduces risk of MI, but less is known about effects on types of MI. ODYSSEY OUTCOMES compared the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab with placebo in 18 924 patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and elevated LDL-C (≥1.8 mmol/L) despite intensive statin therapy. In a pre-specified analysis, we assessed the effects of alirocumab on types of MI. Methods and results  Median follow-up was 2.8 years. Myocardial infarction types were prospectively adjudicated and classified. Of 1860 total MIs, 1223 (65.8%) were adjudicated as Type 1, 386 (20.8%) as Type 2, and 244 (13.1%) as Type 4. Few events were Type 3 (n = 2) or Type 5 (n = 5). Alirocumab reduced first MIs [hazard ratio (HR) 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–0.95; P = 0.003], with reductions in both Type 1 (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77–0.99; P = 0.032) and Type 2 (0.77, 0.61–0.97; P = 0.025), but not Type 4 MI. Conclusion  After ACS, alirocumab added to intensive statin therapy favourably impacted on Type 1 and 2 MIs. The data indicate for the first time that a lipid-lowering therapy can attenuate the risk of Type 2 MI. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction below levels achievable with statins is an effective preventive strategy for both MI types.For complete list of authors see http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehz299</p

Effect of alirocumab on mortality after acute coronary syndromes. An analysis of the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES randomized clinical trial

Background: Previous trials of PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9) inhibitors demonstrated reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events, but not death. We assessed the effects of alirocumab on death after index acute coronary syndrome. Methods: ODYSSEY OUTCOMES (Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab) was a double-blind, randomized comparison of alirocumab or placebo in 18 924 patients who had an ACS 1 to 12 months previously and elevated atherogenic lipoproteins despite intensive statin therapy. Alirocumab dose was blindly titrated to target achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) between 25 and 50 mg/dL. We examined the effects of treatment on all-cause death and its components, cardiovascular and noncardiovascular death, with log-rank testing. Joint semiparametric models tested associations between nonfatal cardiovascular events and cardiovascular or noncardiovascular death. Results: Median follow-up was 2.8 years. Death occurred in 334 (3.5%) and 392 (4.1%) patients, respectively, in the alirocumab and placebo groups (hazard ratio [HR], 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.98; P=0.03, nominal P value). This resulted from nonsignificantly fewer cardiovascular (240 [2.5%] vs 271 [2.9%]; HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.05; P=0.15) and noncardiovascular (94 [1.0%] vs 121 [1.3%]; HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.01; P=0.06) deaths with alirocumab. In a prespecified analysis of 8242 patients eligible for ≥3 years follow-up, alirocumab reduced death (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.94; P=0.01). Patients with nonfatal cardiovascular events were at increased risk for cardiovascular and noncardiovascular deaths (P<0.0001 for the associations). Alirocumab reduced total nonfatal cardiovascular events (P<0.001) and thereby may have attenuated the number of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular deaths. A post hoc analysis found that, compared to patients with lower LDL-C, patients with baseline LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL (2.59 mmol/L) had a greater absolute risk of death and a larger mortality benefit from alirocumab (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.90; Pinteraction=0.007). In the alirocumab group, all-cause death declined wit h achieved LDL-C at 4 months of treatment, to a level of approximately 30 mg/dL (adjusted P=0.017 for linear trend). Conclusions: Alirocumab added to intensive statin therapy has the potential to reduce death after acute coronary syndrome, particularly if treatment is maintained for ≥3 years, if baseline LDL-C is ≥100 mg/dL, or if achieved LDL-C is low. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01663402

Antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of Tamarindus indica (Tamarind) seeds

The crude ethanol and methanol extracts of Tamarindus indica seeds have been investigated to evaluate their antibacterial and cytotoxic potentialities. Extracts were screened for their antibacterial activity against both gram positive and negative bacteria primarily by disc diffusion method and then minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay. Besides the cytotoxic activity were screened by using brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The average zone of inhibition for ethanol extract of seeds of tamarind was ranged from 7.5 - 13.5 mm for 500 μg/disc. And for methanol extract the zone of inhibition was ranged from 6.5 - 13.25 mm for 500 μg/disc. From MIC assay minimum inhibitory concentration was found 1.25 mg/ml for ethanol and 0.625 mg/ml for methanol extract. The minimum bactericidal concentration was found 2.5 mg/ml for ethanol and 1.25 mg/ml for methanol extract. Compared to vincristine sulfate (with LC50 of 0.99 μg/ml) both ethanol and methanol extract of T. indica seeds showed toxicity lower than 100 μg/ml and greater than 30 μg/ml. The study confirms greater antibacterial activity of T. indica seed extracts with moderate cytotoxic activity. This study thus demands isolation of active principles and thorough bioassays.&#x0D; J. bio-sci. 27: 83-88, 2019</jats:p

Biodiesel from cotton seed oil and its effect on engine performance and exhaust emissions

The use of biodiesel is rapidly expanding around the world, making it imperative to fully understand the impacts of biodiesel on the diesel engine combustion process and pollutant formation. Biodiesel is known as the mono-alkyl-esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable feedstocks, such as, vegetable oils or animal fats, for use in compression ignition engines. Different parameters for the optimization of biodiesel production were investigated in the first phase of this study, while in the next phase of the study performance test of a diesel engine with neat diesel fuel and biodiesel mixtures were carried out. Biodiesel was made by the well known transesterification process. Cottonseed oil (CSO) was selected for biodiesel production. Cottonseed is non-edible oil, thus food versus fuel conflict will not arise if this is used for biodiesel production. The transesterification results showed that with the variation of catalyst, methanol or ethanol, variation of biodiesel production was realized. However, the optimum conditions for biodiesel production are suggested in this paper. A maximum of 77% biodiesel was produced with 20% methanol in presence of 0.5% sodium hydroxide. The engine experimental results showed that exhaust emissions including carbon monoxide (CO) particulate matter (PM) and smoke emissions were reduced for all biodiesel mixtures. However, a slight increase in oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emission was experienced for biodiesel mixtures. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effects of drying as a preservation technique on nutrient contents of beef

Effects of different drying methods (sun drying, oven drying &amp; rural cooker smoking) and meat size (block, flat &amp; mince) on the nutrient content of beef was investigated with cooked cured (CC) or non-cooked cured (NC) beef. Both physical and chemical assessment were done to assess the quality of meat. Organoleptically all the samples were in acceptable condition upto 120 days of storage time. The initial (30 days) DM, CP, EE and ash content, of the samples (g/100 g DM) were ranged from 81.32-90.00, 69.00-80.16, 2.90-5.23 and 15.00-18.01, respectively. The DM, CP and EE decreased and ash content increased with increasing storage time. At the end of 120 days of storage the DM, CP, EE and ash content of the samples (g/100 g DM) ranged from 79.00-87.36, 67.24-77.92, 1.90 - 4.00 and 19.00 - 24.70, respectively. DM and CP content in cooked meat was higher than non-cooked meat. However, cooked meat contains less EE and ash value than non-cooked meat. At the end of storing time rural smoked cooked block contain highest protein (77.92%) and oven dried non-cooked mince meat (67.24%) contain lowest protein percent. Statistical analysis revealed that there was a significant (P&lt;0.5 to 0.01) effect of drying methods and meat size on cooked or non-cooked meat. The nutrient contents of meat sample degraded significantly (P&lt;0.05 to 0.01) with the elapse of storage time. The quality decreasing trend was lower in smoked, cooked, flat size meat sample. From this study it was observed that rural cooker smoking method of meat drying could be a useful technique of meat preservation. Keywords: Drying methods; Meat sizes; Beef preservation; Nutrient content DOI: 10.3329/jbau.v7i1.4800 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 7(1): 63-68, 2009</jats:p

Predictors of Childhood Intractable Epilepsy- A Retrospective Study in A Tertiary Care Hospital

Objective: To study the predictors of intractable childhood epilepsy and to comparethe predictors of outcome in early and late onset childhood epilepsy.Design: Retrospective study.Study place: Child Development and Neurology Unit in the Department of Paediatricsof Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).Study period: January 2004 to December 2005.Subjects: Children with epilepsy of 1 month to 15 years of age who attended theepilepsy clinic.Results: The predictors of outcome of childhood epilepsy were analyzed. Accordingto outcome there were two groups, well- controlled group (seizure free for more than 6months) and intractable epilepsy ( one or more seizures per month over a period of 6months). The predictors of early and late onset childhood epilepsy were also compared.Total 73 cases were studied. Out of them 38 patients had early onset epilepsy (lessthan one year) and 35 had late onset epilepsy (more than one year). Median age ofonset of early and late onset of childhood epilepsy group was 3.5 months and 60months respectively. Male and female ratio was 1.53:1 and 0.94:1 in early and lateonset group respectively. Major seizure type was tonic-clonic seizure in 57.9% and77.1% patients of early and late onset group respectively. In this study, 27 (77.1%)patients of late onset and 5(13.2%) patients of early onset group achieved seizureremission. Independent predictors of intractable childhood epilepsy were finally found.Conclusion: In this study symptomatic epilepsy, myoclonic seizure, initial highfrequency of seizure, infantile spasm, neonatal seizures and birth asphyxia weresignificantly higher among early onset group than in late onset group. Early onset ofseizure, myoclonic seizure, initial high frequency of seizure (≥1 seizure/day),symptomatic etiology, neonatal seizure and microcephaly were found independentpredictors of intractable epilepsy.Key words: Early onset; late onset; intractable seizures.DOI: 10.3329/bjch.v33i1.5669Bangladesh Journal of Child Health 2009; Vol.33(1): 6-15</jats:p

BANGLADESH J CHILD HEALTH 2009; VOL 33 (1) : 6-15 Predictors of Childhood Intractable Epilepsy- A Retrospective Study in A Tertiary Care Hospital

Objective: To study the predictors of intractable childhood epilepsy and to compare the predictors of outcome in early and late onset childhood epilepsy