Does the Participation in the Microcredit Programs Increase Consumption of Participating Households? The Case of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh

This paper assesses empirically the impact of the participation in the microcredit program of the Grameen Bank on consumption of participating households. A household level survey was carried out for collecting data (N=521). The results of the empirical estimations indicate that the participation of a household in the microcredit program of the Grameen Bank increases consumption of participating households significantly. But there is non-linearity in the increasing trend in consumption of participating households. The consumption level goes up gradually with the increase in the membership duration up to five years of membership, but the growth rate starts declining after that period of membership.Microcredit, Consumption, Impact Assessment, Grameen Bank, Bangladesh, Agricultural Finance, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty,

Does the Participation in the Microcredit Programs Contribute to the Development of Women Entrepreneurship at the Household Level? Experience from Bangladesh

Microcredit, Women Entrepreneurship Development, Bangladesh, Consumer/Household Economics,

Microfinance and Environment: Does the Participation in the Microcredit Based Social Forestry of Proshika in Bangladesh Improve Environmental Literacy?

The study intends to assess the impact of the participation in the microcredit based social forestry program of Proshika in Bangladesh on the environmental literacy of participating households. The analysis is based on a household-level survey of 450 households. Considering the endogeneity in program participation, the instrumental variable (IV) technique has been used to achieve the objective of the paper. The results indicate that the participation in the social forestry program of Proshika significantly enhances the environmental literacy of participating households.Microcredit, Social Forestry, Environmental Literacy, Proshika, Bangladesh,

Climate Change and Corporate Environmental Responsibility

Climate change, as an international environmental issue, is getting a lot of attention. The negative effects of climate change have become one of the most talked about issues among Governments, scientists, environmentalists and others. It is said that business activities are affecting the climate negatively. In order to minimize the negative effects of climate change, the activities of the businesses should be controlled and encouraged to perform in a socially responsible manner. The article focuses on the responsibilities and the responses of businesses on climate change issues. The article first highlights on two prominent issues: Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Environmental Responsibility. Then the article introduces climate change as an international environmental concern. Then, by going through several published literature, the article highlights various responsibilities of business towards climate change issues. The article also highlights the several strategies the businesses are following to respond to the climate change issues

Climate Change and Corporate Environmental Responsibility

Climate change, as an international environmental issue, is getting a lot of attention. The negative effects of climate change have become one of the most talked about issues among Governments, scientists, environmentalists and others. It is said that business activities are affecting the climate negatively. In order to minimize the negative effects of climate change, the activities of the businesses should be controlled and encouraged to perform in a socially responsible manner. The article focuses on the responsibilities and the responses of businesses on climate change issues. The article first highlights on two prominent issues: Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Environmental Responsibility. Then the article introduces climate change as an international environmental concern. Then, by going through several published literature, the article highlights various responsibilities of business towards climate change issues. The article also highlights the several strategies the businesses are following to respond to the climate change issues

Hepatitis B virus total core antibody status in unvaccinated general population in a community of Bangladesh

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a significant health challenge in Bangladesh, with the hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) being a crucial marker due to its lifelong presence in the bloodstream. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anti-HBc (total) positivity among unvaccinated adults in Northeastern Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Sobhanighat area of Sylhet, Bangladesh, in collaboration with the department of gastroenterology, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, from November 2022 to August 2023. A total of 216 participants were selected using consecutive sampling. HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc (total) were tested for all subjects, and data were collected using a pre-formed questionnaire and analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 24. Results: Among the participants, 16 (7.4%) tested positive for anti-HBc (total), while HBsAg was positive in 6 (2.77%) individuals. Anti-HBs was detectable in 23 (10.6%) participants, with 3 (1.38%) showing isolated anti-HBc positivity. Notably, 20% of HBsAg-positive cases exhibited heterotypic anti-HBs. Moreover, 56.25% of respondents with anti-HBc (total) positivity had detectable anti-HBs (p<0.001). Gender did not show significant associations with HBsAg, anti-HBc (total), anti-HBs, or isolated anti-HBc (p>0.05). Conclusions: The study underscores a notable prevalence of anti-HBc (total) positivity among unvaccinated individuals in Bangladesh, indicative of past HBV exposure. It underscores the necessity for enhanced vaccination coverage and robust infection control measures to mitigate HBV transmission in this demographic

Salbutamol in acute organophosphorus insecticide poisoning - a pilotdose-response phase II study

Treatment of acute organophosphorus (OP) insecticide poisoning is difficult, with many patients dying despite best care. Pre-clinical studies have shown benefit from salbutamol, possibly due speeding alveolar fluid clearance or reducing bronchoconstriction. In this small pilot dose-response study, we aimed to explore whether addition of nebulized salbutamol to standard care might improve resuscitation.We performed a single-blind phase II study comparing the effect of two different doses of nebulized salbutamol versus saline placebo, in addition to standard treatment. Primary outcome was oxygen saturations over the first 60 min of resuscitation; secondary outcomes included heart rate, incidence of dysrhythmias, time to 'atropinization', atropine dose required, and mortality.Seventy-five patients were randomized to receive 5 mg (Salb5, n = 25) or 2.5mg (Salb2.5, n = 25) of salbutamol, or saline placebo (NoSalb, n = 25), by nebulizer. Oxygen saturations did not differ between groups over the first 60 min of resuscitation (median AUC NoSalb: 1376 [95% CI 1282 to 1470], Salb2.5: 1395 [1305 to 1486], Salb5: 1233 [1100 to 1367]; p = .9898). Heart rate was also similar across the three arms. Median time to full atropinization, and atropine dose required, were the same for all three arms (NoSalb 15.0 [10-16] min and 12.6 [8.0-13.4] mg, Salb2.5 15.0 [10-16] min and 12.6 [9.3-16.8] mg, and Salb5 15.0 [10-20] min and 12.6 [10.7-20.6] mg; p = .4805 and p = .1871, respectively). Three (12%) patients died in the Salb2.5 and Salb5 groups and two (8%) in the NoSalb group.This pilot study, within the limitations of its small size and variation between patients, found no apparent evidence that administration of nebulized salbutamol improved resuscitation of patients with acute OP insecticide self-poisoning. The data obtained provides a basis to design further studies to ultimately test the role of salbutamol in OP insecticide poisoning