Optimizing the Protein Yield of the Collagen Mimetic Peptide: Col108

Abstract The fibril-forming collagen mimetic peptide Col108, produced in E. Coli, has shown potential for innovative biomaterial applications. However, further research is constrained by its limited yield. My study aims to enhance the experimental parameters and has successfully pinpointed rifampicin as an efficient method to boost the production of Col108

An Evaluation of the Performance of Proc ARIMA\u27s Identify Statement: A Data-Driven Approach using COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Florida

Understanding data on novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and modeling such data over time are crucial for decision making at managing, fighting, and controlling the spread of this emerging disease. This thesis work looks at some aspects of exploratory analysis and modeling of COVID-19 data obtained from the Florida Department of Health (FDOH). In particular, the present work is devoted to data collection, preparation, description, and modeling of COVID-19 cases and deaths reported by FDOH between March 12, 2020, and April 30, 2021. For modeling data on both cases and deaths, this thesis utilized an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) times series model. The IDENTIFY statement of SAS PROC ARIMA suggests a few competing models with suggested values of the parameter p (the order of the Autoregressive model), d (the order of the differencing), and q (the order of the Moving Average model). All suggested models are then compared using AIC (Akaike Information Criterion), SBC (Schwarz Bayes Criterion), and MAE (Mean Absolute Error) values, and the best-fitting models are then chosen with smaller values of the above model comparison criteria. To evaluate the performance of the model selected under this modeling approach, the procedure is repeated using the first six month\u27s data and forecasting the next 7 days data, nine month\u27s data and forecasting the next 7 days data, and then all reported FDOH data from March 12, 2020, to April 30, 2021, and forecasting the future data. The findings of exploratory data analysis that suggests higher COVID-19 cases for females compared to males and higher male deaths compared to females are taken into consideration by evaluating the performance of final models by gender for both cases and deaths\u27 data reported by FDOH. The gender-specific models appear to be better under model comparison criteria Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) compared to models based on gender aggregated data. It is observed that the fitted models reasonably predicted the future numbers of confirmed cases and deaths. Given similarities in reported COVID-19 data, the proposed modeling approach can be applied to data in the USA and many other States, and countries around the world

Wastewater treatment using coconut fibre ash as an adsorbent for removal of heavy metals

The study aimed at evaluating the performance of coconut fibre ash as an alternative low-cost adsorbent to the synthetic adsorbents used in wastewater treatment. This research aims to identify the optimum condition for the adsorption process, considering the effect of particle size, adsorbent dosage, and contact time of adsorbents of coconut fibre ash in removing lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) metal ions from electroplating wastewater. The adsorbents coconut fibre ash was prepared through activation of carbon at 450º C after following proper cleaning and drying process. The experiments were conducted at varying adsorbent dosages (0.2 g, 0.6 g, and 1 g), particle size (50 to 200 microns), and contact times (40 minutes, 80 minutes, and 120 minutes). The result shows that adsorbents show less efficiency in removing Zn metal ions, which is not more than 34% in the case of 1g adsorbent dosage, particle size ranges 100-200 microns, and 120 minute contact time. The maximum removal efficiency of 95.04% and 80% was obtained at the optimum amount (1g) of adsorbent dosage for Pb and Cu respectively. In the case of contact time, it was identified that the optimum condition for maximum removal efficiency is 120 minutes with a 1g adsorbent dosage both for Pb and Cu ions. To ensure maximum removal of metal avoiding any desorption of the metal ion from the adsorbent surface, it was identified that a maximum contact time of 120 minutes should be allowed for adsorption. However, it could be concluded that adsorbents of coconut fibre ash can be used in treating wastewater facilitating good adsorption capacity in removing heavy metals, low cost and availability

Farming Systems for Improved Nutrition: a Formative Study

International literature accords immense importance to agriculture interventions in order to achieve better health and nutrition. It stresses the importance of women’s engagement, diversified production and consumption, and incorporation of other health and nutrition services into the agriculture extension services. Little is understood how communities perceive these dimensions in building their farming systems for better nutrition, particularly in the context of Bangladesh. This paper To understand the perceptions and needs of local farming communities in promoting agriculture for nutrition and how to address their needs, given the existing programmatic framework of a NGO, BRAC in Bangladesh. The research concludes that pilot testing of interventions based on the feedback received from the communities who have been exposed to the principles and experiences of nutrition-sensitive agriculture models is worth considering in defining a feasible model to promote agriculture for better nutrition.DFIDUKAI

Relationship between depression and socio-demographic and illness characteristics in arsenicosis population in Bangladesh

A community based cross-sectional study was carried out by a self-structured questionnaire on 168 participants aged between 18 and 60 years at two arsenic prone area of Bangladesh to determine the association between extent of depression and socio-demographic as well as illness characteristics in arsenicosis population. The mean age ± SD was 42 ± 10.15 years. Female respondents were almost twice (63.1%) than the males (36.9%) in this study. Most of the respondents (94.0%) were shallow tube well water user. Among them most (80.0%) of the respondents were detected as arsenic contaminated water consumer over more than six months. Study estimated that almost half (44.3%) of the participants had suffered from mild to moderate depression in the moderate arsenicosis group. Less than quarter (20.8%) participants suffered severe depression in severe arsenicosis group. Quarter (26.7%) had mild arsenicosis with no depression. This difference was not significant. Gender had significant influence on proportion of level of depression. Females significantly suffered more from depressive symptoms than males. More than two third of the female respondents suffered from some kind of depressive symptoms; where less than one third of the males were suffered from depressive symptoms. Age has no significant relation with depression. Respondents who were 48 years and above age group had highest percentages of severe depressive symptoms (35.8%). This age group also suffered from highest percentage of mild to moderate depression (37.1%). Though most of the respondent (85.1) had no diabetes and hypertension. Respondents with physical illness suffered more from some sorts of depression than those without illness, but the result is not statistically significant. We understood that depression has health challenges in adult arsenicosis patients. Therefore, physicians should take account depression in their treatment management when deal with arsenicosis patients

Screening for cervical cancer (By VIA Test) among selected garments worker in Chattogram, Bangladesh

Background: Bangladesh is a densely populated country of South East Asia with low resource setting where cervical cancer is the 2nd leading cause of female cancer. In more than 80% cases are diagnosed at advanced and inoperable stage. Regarding socio demographic context of this country VIA has been introduced as a screening method for cervical cancer which is most simple, cost effective, and acceptable test for all women. In Bangladesh among 3 million garment workers more than 80% are women. The objective of this study was to identify prevalence of VIA positive cases among garment workers. So that it can reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in Bangladesh. Methods: It was a cross–sectional observational study conducted in some selected garment factories in Chattogram city of Bangladesh from January 2021 to July 2021, where we enrolled 534 female workers for VIA test. Results: Among all the respondents 56% were 30 years or younger, 38% were aged between 31 to 40 years. Among 534 participants, 44.9% completed primary education, 37.3% were smoker and 34.5% had their children at early age. Majority (86.7%) had excessive whitish discharge. Post coital bleeding and irregular bleeding was 2.6% and 2.2% respectively. Considering awareness, 61.8% had idea about cervical cancer, only 1.1% had undergone VIA test in the past. In our study we found 2.4% of participants were VIA positive cases. Conclusions: It is important to include the garment workers, while making public health policies and implementation of cervical cancer control program

Comparison of HRCT of chest findings in different waves during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective descriptive study in COVID dedicated hospital in Bangladesh

Background: The existing COVID-19 epidemic has affected masses of people universally, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Radiological imaging methods such as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), computed tomography (CT) and chest x-ray have played an essential role in diagnosing and managing COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional and observational study was conducted in the department of radiology and imaging, Kurmitola General Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, a COVID dedicated hospital. A total number of 469 patients (N=469) from ≤20 to ≥90 years old were included in the study. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Results: Based on distribution by age group, the highest number of cases in all three waves were among individuals aged 51-60 (126, 26.9%), followed by those aged 61-70 (97, 20.7%) and 41-50 (90, 19.2%). Among the patients with subtle GGO, the proportion of cases was highest in the first wave, followed by a decrease in the second wave and a further decrease in the third wave. The proportion of patients with SCL was highest in the second (44.9%) wave and decreased in the third (5.9%) wave. For both LUL and LLL, the majority of cases with radiological were observed in the “yes” group in all waves, with significantly higher proportions in the “yes” group compared to the “no” group (p value <0.001). Conclusions: The findings highlighted the significance of incorporating routine radiological examinations and monitoring of radiological features in managing and treating COVID-19 patients. The findings in the study also suggested that the percentage of lung involvement increased from the first to the third wave of COVID-19, which is consistent with the increasing trend of COVID-19 cases during the same period

The effectiveness of intrapartum cardiotocography with fetal outcome-a hospital-based study

Background: The determination of the fetal condition during labour is important to minimize fetal mortality, morbidity and neurological sequelae of fetal hypoxia. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of intrapartum cardiotocography (CTG) in detecting fetal outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the department of obstetrics and gynecology in the centre for women and child health (CWCH), Ashulia, Dhaka from November 2020 to August 2022. The study was carried out with a total of 63 pregnant women (n=63) who had delivered their child either by lower uterine caesarian section (LUCS) or normal vaginal delivery (NVD) during the study period. Result: Among the participants, almost half participants (47.6%) were aged between 25-29 years. Intrapartum CTG was reactive in around half (54%) of the participants, while non-reactive in 46% of the participants. During the study period, intrapartum CTG was reactive in 34 patients. Of them, only 19 patients had an NVD, while 15 patients despite normal intrapartum CTG also underwent LUCS due to various reasons such as having meconium-stained liquor or slightly stained liquor, non-progressing labour or prolonged labour, premature rupture of the membrane (PROM), fear of NVD etc. During the study period, all twenty-nine patients having intrapartum non-reactive CTG underwent LUCS. During the study period, intrapartum CTG was non-reactive in 29 cases. However, after delivery, the baby’s APGAR score was ≥7 for the 20 neonates of those 29 non-reactive CTG cases. On the other hand, intrapartum CTG was reactive in 34 of the participants. Among them, 3 neonates were delivered through NVD. However, meconium-stained liquor was found and the baby’s APGAR score was <7, which required NICU admission. In total, thirteen neonates (13, 20.6%) had required admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Conclusions: CTG is one of the reliable methods of monitoring the fetus. Non-reactive CTG record with a high probability indicates the likelihood of the presence of perinatal asphyxia. Instant and adequate decisions regarding obstetric intervention and optimal procedures should be taken if fetal distress is suspected.