Urban Local Government and Environmental Management in Bangladesh: A Study on Chunarughat Paurashava

Urban local government is a vital part for the delivery of services to people. Along with other responsibilities, urban local government in Bangladesh is also responsible for environmental management. This study aims to identify the role of Paurashavas (which are administrative units at every municipality composed of elected members) in protecting a healthy and clean environment. Examining Chunarughat Paurashava, the study finds that Paurashavas have an important role in environmental management such as garbage collection, waste disposal, sewerage construction, public park protection, and so on. However, the provision of these kinds of services is hindered by various lacks, like infrastructure, logistic support, trained manpower, and funds, as well as peoples’ participation. The study makes various recommendations to overcome these problems.local government, environmental management, Bangladesh, Paurashava, Chunarughat

Citizen participation in urban local government: a case study of Kanaighat Paurashava in Bangladesh

Scholars have identified many variables as determinants of citizen participation, but not all of these are relevant to citizen participation in specific cultural and political contexts. This paper seeks to identify the specific factors which work as drivers for citizen participation in Bangladesh through a case study of Kanaighat Paurashava (municipality), an urban local government. It identifies the following variables which strongly affect citizen participation: the role of elected representatives, notably their willingness and awareness; the provision of information to citizens; citizens’ capacity; and resources available. Findings also suggest that a holistic approach is needed to understand and change representatives’ attitudes towards citizens and ensure participation

Methodological Dilemma in Microfinance Research: Applicability of a Qualitative Case Study Design

This paper sheds light on the methodological dilemma in microfinance research and examines the feasibility of conducting a qualitative case study. Microfinance research is dominated by quantitative impact studies. However, the issues of process and implementation are critical to make an impact. The paper argues that a qualitative case study method can be used as a supplement or an alternative to quantitative methodology, because it is context-specific and naturally enquires research problem. The in-depth and in-detail inquiry make the findings more robust, and readers can understand the meaning holistically by reading stories and quotes. The case study can be used to prove microfinance impacts and to improve microfinance practices

Culture of Chlorella ellipsoidea in different culture media

An experiment of algal culture was conducted in natural light and temperature conditions at a balcony of a room at the 2nd floor of Fisheries Faculty Building facing the north. The experiment was done to evaluate the growth of Chlorella ellipsoidea in four different media, viz, medium I (inorganic), medium II (organic, whole pulse powder extract), medium III (organic, whole lentil powder extract) and medium IV (organic, whole gram powder extract) under natural environment conditions during January-June, 2015. Growth rates of the algal species in four different media were found not significantly different. The alga, C. ellipsoidea attained maximum cell density of 28.89×106 cell ml-1 in the 15th day in medium I, of 30.69×106 cell ml-1 in the 13th day in medium II, of 26.18×106 cell ml-1 in the 15th day in medium III and of 21.12×106 cell ml-1 in the 13th day in medium IV. The ranges of air temperature, water temperature and light intensity were 21°C to 38°C, 23°C to 36°C and 2.28×103to 9.60×103 Lux respectively during the culture period. The average sunshine period was 5.87±2.82 hrs. Total alkalinity, free CO2, pH , NO3-N and PO4-P of algal culture media I, II, III and IV were 128, 540, 554 and 322 mgL-1; 32, 162, 102, 70 mgL-1; 7.4, 8, 7.9 and 7.9; 180, 36.6, 62.4 and 150 mgL-1, and 25.2, 48.2, 42.4 and 45.6 mgL-1, respectively. According to ANOVA of cell densities of cultures of C. ellipsoidea under treatments are not significantly different (F=1.441077). It is clear that differences between them are not significant i.e. mean algal cell densities are more or less same as differences between treatments are less than 20%.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 7 (1): 51-57, June, 201

Effects of population density on growth and production of Tilapia in monoculture

The experiment was conducted to determine the effect of population density on growth and production of Tilapia (monosex GIFT tilapia) in monoculture system for a period of 110 days. The experiment was carried out in six earthen ponds, which were situated in the Bangladesh Agricultural University Campus, Mymensingh. The experiment was carried out under three treatments each with two replications. Fish population density was 200 fish per decimal under treatment-I, 400 fish per decimal under treatment-II and 600 fish per decimal under treatment-III. In the ponds supplementary feed of wheat bran and rice bran mixture were used daily at the rate of 46 g, 92 g and 136 g per decimal under treatment-I, II, and III, respectively. The average initial length and weight of tilapia were 4.63 cm and 2.82 g respectively. The ponds were fertilized fortnightly with urea and TSP at the rates of 60 g and 90 g, respectively. During experimental period, the ranges of water temperature (25.82 to 29.80 ºC), transparency (28.00 to 38.00 cm), dissolved oxygen (5.50 to 8.30 mg/L), pH (7.00 to 7.90), total alkalinity (130.00 to 200.00 mg/L), free CO2 (2.00 to 6.00 mg/L), phosphate-phosphorus (1.20 to 2.30 mg/L), and nitrate-nitrogen (3.20 to 4.00 mg/L) were within the productive range and more or less similar in all the ponds under three treatments. There were 25 genera of phytoplankton under five major groups and 10 genera of zooplankton under three major groups in the experimental ponds. Mean survival rate of fish under treatment-I, treatment-II, and treatment-III were 82.75%, 77.12% and 74.33% respectively. The calculated net fish production under treatment-I was 6.75 ton/ha/yr and that of the ponds under treatment-II was 10.26 ton/ha/yr and that of the ponds under treatment-III was 12.15 ton/ha/yr. The net fish production under treatment-II and treatment-III were 152% and 180% higher than that of treatment-I, taking net fish production under treatment-I for 100%. According to profit-cost analysis, the ratios of net profit under treatments I, II, and III were 1:0.44, 1:0.27, and 1:0.09. According to specific growth rate and survival, treatment-I is the best, and according to profit-cost analysis treatment-I (ratio 1:0.44) also the best. So, the population density of 200 fish per decimal (under treatment-I) might be considered the best among the three treatments.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 7 (2): 49-56, December, 201

Histopathological and environmental effects of the insecticide, sumithion on the fish, tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in pond condition

The present research work was conducted to evaluate the effects of organophosphate insecticide, sumithion on water quality parameters, density of plankton population and histological changes of kidney and liver of the fish, tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in aquaculture ponds during July to December 2016. The experiment was conducted with four treatments, each with two replications. Treatment T0 was used as control (no sumithion) and other three treatments with 0.025 ppm (T1), 0.050 ppm (T2) and 0.100 ppm sumithion (T3). The water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen, free carbon dioxide, pH, total alkalinity, NO3-N and PO4-P fluctuated significantly under four treatments during the experimental period but they were not affected by sumithion application. The phytoplankton densities (×105 cells L-1) was not affected by sumithion. Six genera of phytoplankton populations were found in the experimental ponds. On the other hand, zooplankton population densities (×103 cells L-1) were significantly reduced with increasing doses of sumithion (T2 and T3) in comparison with that of control (T0). Histological changes of kidney were observed after application of sumithion. The renal corpuscle, collecting duct, hematopoietic cells and other cells of the kidney in control (T0) were normal and systematically arranged. Abnormal collecting duct, Intra-cellular space, degenerated renal corpuscle, irregular shaped blood vessel, ruptured membrane large vacuole and necrosis were found in T1, T2 and T3.Normal structure of liver cells such as hepato-pancreas, hepatic cell and blood vessel were observed in T0 (control). Sumithion exposed liver sections showed rupturedhepato-pancreas, necrosis, hemorrhage, intra-cellular space, degenerated hepatopancreas and large vacuole were found in T1, T2 and T3. Therefore, it reveals that sumithion has adverse effects on kidney and liver of the test fish. So, sumithion should not be used indiscriminately in agriculture and aquaculture practices. It may be concluded from the research finding that dissolved oxygen, free carbon dioxide, pH, total alkalinity, PO4-P, NO3-N, phytoplankton and zooplankton values under treatment, T0, are significantly different from treatments T1, T2, and T3 in most cases. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 9 (1): 84-95, June, 201

Determinants of male participation in reproductive healthcare services: a cross-sectional study

Background The role of male’s participation in reproductive healthcare is now well-recognized. The present study investigated the role of men in some selected reproductive health issues, characterizing their involvement, including factors influencing their participation in reproductive healthcare services. Methods This study was conducted in the working areas of urban and rural implemented by NGOs. The sample-size was determined scientifically. The systematic sampling procedure was used for selecting the sample. The study included 615 men aged 25-45 years. Bivariate analysis was performed between male’s involvement as the dependent variable with several independent variables. Logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the effects of risk factors on the participation of men in reproductive health care services. Results The mean age of the respondents was little over 34 years while their mean years of schooling was 3.7, and their mean monthly income was about Tk 3,400 (US$ 1 = Tk 70) at the time of the study. Rickshaw-pulling and driving was the main occupation of the respondents from the urban while farming were main occupation in the rural area respectively. About two-thirds of the respondents discussed reproductive health issues with their wives and accompanied them to healthcare facilities. The current contraceptive-use rate was 63% among the men who attended the evening clinics. Results of bivariate analysis showed a significant association with education, occupation, income, access to media, and number of living children. Results of logistic regression analysis showed that secondary to higher education level, number of living children, paid employment status, long marital duration, and access to media were important correlates of males’ involvement in reproductive healthcare services. Conclusions The results imply that a greater integration of reproductive healthcare matters with the Millennium Development Goals and increasing perception of men through enrollment in various components of reproductive activities will produce synergistic effects

Effects of organophosphate insecticide, sumithion on histopathology of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the natural pond condition

Sumithion is an organophosphorus insecticide, which is widely used in aquaculture ponds for eradication of aquatic insect (mainly tiger bug) prior to release of larvae. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of an organophosphorus pesticide, sumithion on histoarchitecture of liver and kidney in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) during the period from July to December 2016. It was carried out with four treatments, each with two replications. i.e., ponds with no sumithion (T0), with 0.025ppm sumithion (T1), 0.050 ppm sumithion (T2) and 0.100 ppm sumithion (T3). The water quality parameters, such as pH, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, free CO2, nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), phosphate-phosphorus (PO4-P) were not affected by sub lethal doses of sumithion but the values were fluctuated significantly in most of the cases between the ponds throughout the study period. In case of histoarchitecture of liver and kidney, normal structure of liver and kidney cells were observed in the controlled and treated fish. Through the histological analysis of liver, small vacuole, enlarge lumen space of hepatopancreas and disrupted hepatopancreas were found in T1. Disrupted hepatopancreas, increasement intracellular space, regeneration of hepatic cell and hemorrhage were observed in T2. Moreover, enlarge lumen space of hepatopancreas, degenerated hepatic cell, disrupted hepatopancreas were observed in T3. After the histological analysis of kidney, degenerated renal corpuscle, enlargement of blood vessel, disrupted hematopoetic cell were observed in T1. Ruptured collecting duct, large vacuole, enlarge intracellular space were observed in T2. Furthermore, enlarge bowman’s space, degenerated hematopoetic cell hemorrhage and ruptured distal tubule disrupted, enlarge intracellular space and necrosis were observed in T3. The present investigation sufficiently emphasizes that sumithion has adverse effects on the major organs like liver and kidney. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 10(2): 66-75, December 202

The Gonadotropin-Inhibitory Hormone: What We Know and What We Still Have to Learn From Fish

Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone, GnIH, is named because of its function in birds and mammals; however, in other vertebrates this function is not yet clearly established. More than half of the vertebrate species are teleosts. This group is characterized by the 3R whole genome duplication, a fact that could have been responsible for the great phenotypic complexity and great variability in reproductive strategies and sexual behavior. In this context, we revise GnIH cell bodies and fibers distribution in adult brains of teleosts, discuss its relationship with GnRH variants and summarize the few reports available about the ontogeny of the GnIH system. Considering all the information presented in this review, we propose that in teleosts, GnIH could have other functions beyond reproduction or act as an integrative signal in the reproductive process. However, further studies are required in order to clarify the role of GnIH in this group including its involvement in development, a key stage that strongly impacts on adult life