Public vs. Private Governance in the Norwegian Aquaculture: Can the ASC Supplement or Supplant the Public Regulations?

It is predicted that by the year 2050, the world population will reach 9.8 billion (UN, 2017). The need for fish as a good source of nutrition is also increasing. Total global aquaculture production is now exceeding the global capture fisheries production by over 18.32 million tons (FAO,2019). This increasing demand for aquatic animals as human food, limited marine captured fisheries, and the continuous development of biological knowledge altogether bring the opportunity to farm domesticate finfish species (Harache,2002). The range of species that the global aquaculture industry produces is diverse, and It ranges from unicellular Chlorella algae produced with the help of indoor bioreactors to the production of carnivorous Atlantic salmon in outdoor floating net cages (FAO 2019). As aquaculture is growing, various environmental, economic, and social concerns have been arising. These concerns include pollution, feeding practices, disease management and antibiotic use, habitat use, non-native species, food safety, fraud, animal welfare, impacts on traditional wild fisheries, access to water and space, market competition, and genetics (Anderson et al., 2019). Addressing these concerns requires proper management systems in place. The early development of the Norwegian aquaculture industry started in the 1970s and continued to grow so swiftly that aquatic animals' export value exceeded 65 billion NOK by 2016 (Norwegian Seafood Council, 2017). The industry now has been operating with the vision of representing a five-fold increment of the total production volume (5 million tons) by the year 2050 (Furuset, 2017, Olafsen et al., 2012, NSC, 2017). The Norwegian aquaculture industry is providing significant social and economic benefits to the nation. However, unlike the global aquaculture scenario, there are concerns about its wide-ranging impacts on the environment and ecology. Genetic disturbance and diseases that can be transferred to the wild stocks by the escaped farmed fish or the ingestion of contaminated wastage are some examples that can have negative impacts on the ecosystem (Fernandes and Read, 2001). Although the industry is compatible with handling most of the fish diseases and emissions, controlling some other factors like salmon lice and its impact on wild stocks, escapes, or fish mortality are still challenging. (Nofima, SINTEF Ocean and BarentsWatch, 2020). Although environmental issues are dominant, there are social and economic concerns increasing too. Conflict among different users for the same space, risk related to the workplace are some of the social challenges that the industry has been facing. However, the social benefits being driven by the industry by creating job opportunities or paying taxes are, to an extent, offsetting negative social and economic impacts (Nofima, SINTEF Ocean and BarentsWatch, 2020). To pave a sustainable way to reach the 2050 goal, a practical and suitable governance system must be exercised. Now, governance is not as simple as it sounds as it does not deal only with those things that governors do; rather, it represents the interactions between the governing bodies and those to be governed and thus, governance can be defined as an interaction itself (Kooiman, 2003). Governance can either be public or be private (Kooiman, 2003). Due to the increasing criticisms raised by science and NGOs against public governance for putting less effort than required, private governance (like the ASC or the MSC) is becoming increasingly influential in setting up and governing sustainable practices (Foley 2012). However, international certification schemes are not free from criticisms for being too generic and considering necessary local conditions as required. The Norwegian aquaculture industry has been governed by a combination of various acts and management systems. Among others, the Traffic Light System (TLS) is the newly introduced technology that came into effect on the 30th of October 2017 and is dedicated to aquaculture and regulates the production capacity of the Atlantic Salmon (Michaelsen, 2019). The system's three core aspects are the production zoning, environmental indicator (salmon lice), and the adjustment of production zones' production capacity based on action rule with threshold values (Michaelsen, 2019). On the other hand, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), established in 2010 as a third-party independent certification scheme, is also working as a private governing body in the industry (The ASC, 2019). With eight principles and more than 150 indicators, this hybrid governance is, in some cases, challenging the public governmental policies (Vince, 2017). Although the Norwegian public governance and ASC have similarities and dissimilarities and are working in the same industry together, the necessity to compare, coordinate, and improve the interplay between them is not sufficiently explored

Diffusion Tensor Imaging Based Tractography of Human Brain Fiber Bundles

Tractography is a non-invasive process for reconstruction, modeling and visualization of neural fibers in the white matter (WM) of human brain. It has emerged as a major breakthrough for neuroscience research due to its usefulness in clinical applications. Two types of tractography approaches: deterministic and probabilistic have been investigated to evaluate their performances on tracking fiber bundles using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The images are taken by applying pulsed magnetic fields in multiple gradient directions. After removing the non-brain areas from the images, the diffusion tensor indices for each image voxel are calculated. White matter connectivity of the brain, i.e. tractography, is primarily based upon streamline algorithms where the local tract direction is defined by the principle direction of the diffusion tensor. Simulations are performed using three approaches: fiber assignment by continuous tracking (FACT), probability index of connectivity (PICo) and Gibbs tracking (GT). Simulation results show that probabilistic tractography i.e. PICo and GT can reconstruct longer length of fibers compared to the deterministic approach-FACT but with a cost of high computation time. Moreover, GT handles the more complex fiber configurations of crossing and kissing fibers, more effectively and provides the best reconstruction of fibers. In addition, diffusion tensor indices: fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) for a region of interest can be quantified and used to assess several brain diseases. Prospective investigation of DTI based tractography can reveal useful information on WM architecture in normal and diseased brain which will speed up the detection and treatment of various brain diseases

Effect of Coupling on the Epidemic Threshold in Interconnected Complex Networks: A Spectral Analysis

In epidemic modeling, the term infection strength indicates the ratio of infection rate and cure rate. If the infection strength is higher than a certain threshold -- which we define as the epidemic threshold - then the epidemic spreads through the population and persists in the long run. For a single generic graph representing the contact network of the population under consideration, the epidemic threshold turns out to be equal to the inverse of the spectral radius of the contact graph. However, in a real world scenario it is not possible to isolate a population completely: there is always some interconnection with another network, which partially overlaps with the contact network. Results for epidemic threshold in interconnected networks are limited to homogeneous mixing populations and degree distribution arguments. In this paper, we adopt a spectral approach. We show how the epidemic threshold in a given network changes as a result of being coupled with another network with fixed infection strength. In our model, the contact network and the interconnections are generic. Using bifurcation theory and algebraic graph theory, we rigorously derive the epidemic threshold in interconnected networks. These results have implications for the broad field of epidemic modeling and control. Our analytical results are supported by numerical simulations.Comment: 7 page

RELATIVE VALUATION OF STOCKS: EVIDENCE FROM THE LISTED CEMENT MANUFACTURING COMPANIES OF BANGLADESH

The paper aims to apply the relative valuation technique to the listed cement manufacturing companies of Bangladesh and address whether they are mispriced (overvalued/undervalued) or not. It considers the financial information of seven listed cement manufacturing companies of Bangladesh. All the financial data used in this study has been collected from the annual reports published in their websites for the financial year 2020-2021. On the contrary, closing prices of their stocks for the same year has been collected from the website of the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), one of the two major stock exchanges of Bangladesh. The study reveals that in terms of the selected multiples (PS, PE and PB) all the sample companies are undervalued. But when comparison is made in terms of the relative value and the market value, six companies except one were found undervalued. This implies that despite their strong financial and operating performance, the stocks of the listed cement manufacturing companies are not correctly priced.&nbsp

Online Detection and Estimation of Parameter Jumps.

In many dynamic systems, the parameters are subject to jumps at unknown points in time. The jumps may be the result of some change in the operating system, or plant failure. In this work a method has been developed for fast detection of these jumps and estimation of the post-jump values. The proposed method is called the Combined Filter Algorithm. It is based on the conventional Kalman filter. Single-sample hypothesis test is used to determine the presence or absence of jumps. Small jumps, missed by the hypothesis test, are traced by a Random Walk Model Kalman filter. This is made possible by the introduction of a new kind of decision rule, called the Combined Decision Rule. The properties of this filter under correct and incorrect decisions are studied, and mathematical proofs are presented. The intended main application of the algorithm is the detection of power system faults and estimation of steady-state voltages and currents. The proposed algorithm is tested for ARMA models and discrete state models. The algorithm is also tested on a continuous-time system, where a jump occurs in one parameter. The algorithm is applied to detect and estimate the resulting changes produced in an equivalent ARMA model. Simulation results are presented

Salmonella Typhi and Plasmodium falciparum Co-infection in a 12-year Old Girl with Haemoglobin E Trait from a Non-malarious Area in Bangladesh

A 12-year old girl from Uttar Badda, Dhaka, Bangladesh, was admitted to the Dhaka Hospital of ICDDR,B, with a 23-day history of fever and diarrhoea. After admission, she was treated for culture-proven Salmonella Typhi-associated infection and was discovered to be heterozygous for haemoglobin E. Despite treatment with appropriate antibiotics, the patient's condition did not improve, prompting further investigation, which revealed malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum. Dhaka is considered a malaria-free zone, and the patient denied recent travel outside Dhaka. Subsequently, the patient recovered fully on antimalarial therapy

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

Pregnancy with COVID-19: feto-maternal outcome from a tertiary care hospital, Bangladesh

Background: The objective was to determine the maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 infection in the southeast part of Bangladesh.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), Bangladesh, for one year. Pregnant women were divided into suspected and confirmed groups based on the clinical features of COVID-19 and the results of RT-PCR (SARS-CoV2). Outcome measures were maternal death, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and stillbirth/neonatal death. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied for between-group comparisons. Binary logistic regression analysis was done for factors affecting feto-maternal outcomes. Results were presented as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results: A total of 144 pregnant women (n=144) were included in the study, divided into confirmed (n=71) and suspected (n=73). Complications were more in the confirmed group (p=0.315). Caesarean section was 69% and 64.4% in the confirmed and suspected groups, respectively (p=0.556). Eight women (5.55%) needed ICU admission, five (3.5%) required mechanical ventilation, and five (3.5%) women expired. Fetal distress was seen in 15 (10.41%) pregnancies. Stillbirth or neonatal death and the need for NICU admission were higher for suspected than in confirmed cases. Pregnancies with suspected COVID-19 had 3.91 times (OR: 3.913, 95% CI: 1.398-10.954) higher poor feto-maternal outcome. Unbooked status, COVID-19 test negativity, and use of antivirals were associated with poor feto-maternal outcomes.Conclusions: Pregnancies with COVID-19 were prone to poor feto-maternal outcomes. The study pointed to an improvement in the ANC of pregnant women with COVID-19 in a public hospital like Bangladesh

The relationship between male factor infertility and Chlamydia infection, still an undecided issue

Background: Seropositivity of Chlamydia trachomatis in men is suggestive of chronic and recurrent infection with this sexually transmitted organism. Most males with urogenital Chlamydia infection have serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to C. trachomatis that persist for years. Serologic studies linking C. trachomatis to male infertility and sperm quality lead to highly variable results. The objective of the study was to examine the effect of Chlamydia infection, as determined by Chlamydia seropositivity on semen quality.Methods: One hundred men having semen analysis as part of infertility work up had anti-Chlamydia antibody test. They were grouped into those who are seropositive for Chlamydia antibody IgG and those who were not. The sperm parameters and prevalence of different semen abnormalities were compared between the two groups, Chlamydia positive and Chlamydia negative.Results: There are no significant difference in semen parameters and prevalence of different semen abnormalities between the two groups. The sonographical finding of epididymal cyst is 45.8% in Chlamydia positive compared to 12.2% in Chlamydia negative; the difference is significant.Conclusions: Seropositivity of Chlamydia infection in infertile male is not predictive of semen abnormalities. Serological screening of the male partner for Chlamydia trachomatis provides no more benefit than identifying the female partner at risk of tubal factor infertility and males at risk of epididymal obstruction