Land Degradation Due to Jamuna Riverbank Erosion: A Case Study at Shahjadpur, Sirajganj District, Bangladesh

Climate Change in Bangladesh is an extremely crucial issue. Bangladesh is one of the worstly affected countries by the impacts of Climate Change in coming decades. The climate change in Bangladesh causes the degradation of land resources. High intensity and recurrence of floods are due to irregular rainfall and glacier melting of the Himalayas intensified river bank erosion throughout the year. High yielding land resources on the river bank are degraded each year. This study was conducted for riverbank shifting detection, morphodynamics assessment, and estimation of eroded and accreted land by the Jamuna river at Shahjadpurupazila, Sirajganj district, Bangladesh. The investigation is based on multispectral satellite imagery interpretations using ArcGIS software, followed by a field check. Interpretations show that the Jamuna river in the study area has continuously shifted its path from east to west from 1956 to 2020, resulting in a total loss of 51.68 km2 of landmass. The rate of engulfment was 0.95km2/year whereas the accretion rate was 0.15km2/year. The maximum rate of river shifting on the right bank of Jamuna river in the ShahjadpurUpazila is 84.38 meters/year and the minimum shifting is 31.25 meters/year. This study will help to understand the scenario of land degradation by river erosion in the study area. It may be also helpful to the decision-makers to take the proper mitigation measures regarding riverbank erosion and protectio

Comparison of the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis between combined rectal indomethacin and sublingual nitroglycerin with that of rectal indomethacin alone

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is now widely accepted as a therapeutic modality for benign and malignant diseases of the pancreaticobiliary tree. Acute pancreatitis is the most common and feared complication of ERCP, associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to compare the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis in combined rectal indomethacin and sublingual nitroglycerin with that of rectal indomethacin alone. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial conducted in the Department of Gastroenterology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from July, 2019 to September, 2020. In this study, 100 hospitalized patients of >18 years age undergoing ERCP based on clinical indication and proper investigation were included. The study population was randomly divided into two groups - group A (patients who were given indomethacin suppository plus sublingual glyceryl trinitrate) and group B (patients who were given indomethacin alone). Results: In this study, we found that PEP developed in 11 out of 100 patients (11%). Post-ERCP pancreatitis developed in 2 (4%) in group A and 9 (18%) in group B (p=0.025), which was statistically significant. Mild PEP developed in none in group A and 4 (8%) in group B whereas moderate in 2 (4%) in group A and 3 (6%) in group B. Severe pancreatitis occurred in none in group A and 2 (4%) in group B (p=0.231) which was not statistically significant. Conclusions: This study showed that the combination of indomethacin suppository and sublingual GTN is superior to indomethacin suppository alone in preventing post-ERCP pancreatitis

Comparison of vitamin D (25OHD) status between fertile and infertile men

Background: Vitamin D (25OHD) deficiency has become a modern-day epidemic, being the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide. Many infertile men are experiencing low total sperm count or different semen abnormalities. The aim of this study was to compare serum vitamin D (25OHD) status among fertile and infertile men.Methods: This was an observational (cross sectional comparative) study and was conducted in the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from April 2019 to March 2020. The sample size was 112 men where 56 participants were in fertile men group and 56 participants were infertile men group. Statistical analyses were carried out by using Windows based Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 23.0).Results: The predictability of vitamin D insufficiency was significant. Holding the effects of vitamin D deficiency constant, males with vitamin D insufficiency were 3.28 times more likely to be infertile than males with vitamin D sufficiency. Subgroup analysis of infertile men was done regarding semen parameters in different vitamin D status categories. There was statistically significant difference in semen volume and sperm concentration between infertile men of different vitamin D status but no significant difference in case of motility and morphology.Conclusions: There was no significant different of serum vitamin D (25OHD) between fertile and infertile men. Men with vitamin D insufficiency (≥20 ng/ml to <30 ng/ml) are more likely to be infertile than men with vitamin D sufficiency.

Response of Growth and Yield Attributes of Aromatic Rice to Cowdung and Zinc Fertilization

A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Research Field, Department of the Agronomy, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh during Aman season (June to December) 2016 to evaluate the growth, yield and yield attributes of aromatic rice (cv. Tulshimala) under the fertilization of cowdung (organic manure) and zinc (micronutrient). The application of different levels of cowdung and zinc fertilizers considerably increased the number of total tillers hill-1, number of productive tillers hill-1, panicle length, test weight (g), grain yield hill-1 (g), straw yield hill-1 (g), grain yield (t ha-1), straw yield (t ha-1), and biological yields over control. However, the treatment combination of CD1Zn2 i.e. 10 t ha-1 cowdung and 12 kg ha-1ZnSO4 along with other recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers produced the highest grain yield (2.79 t ha-1) and straw yield (5.80 t ha-1) over other treatments

The effect of zinc fertilization and cow dung on sterility and quantitative traits of rice

The grain yield of rice is far below from its potential yield due low organic matter and micronutrients in the soil. Application of cow dung and zinc fertilizer increases grain yield and quality. A field experiment was, therefore, conducted to evaluate the effect of zinc fertilization and well decomposed cow dung on the spikelet sterility, yield, zinc concentration in grains and plants of aromatic rice (cv. Tulsimala). In this experiment,two levels of well decomposed cowdung (CD) of 0, 10 tha-1, and fourdoses of zinc fertilization viz. 0, 2.16, 4.32, 6.48 kg ha-1 of zinc were used followingeight treatment combinations. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with replication thrice. The data revealed that zinc fertilization remarkably increased the grain yield of Tulshimala by reducing the spikelet sterility percentages in both conditions of CD and the efficiency of zinc fertilization was superior in manuring (CD) condition to non-manuring condition. However, zinc fertilization at the rate of 4.32 kg ha-1 of zinc produced the maximum grainyields under manuring and non-manuring conditions. Zinc fertilization increased the concentration of Zn in the rice plants and grains without and with CD. The strong linear relationship between the grain yield and zinc concentration in the rice plants and grains was found with in this study. Zinc fertilization increased grain yield and quality by decreasing sterility percentage under CD. Hence, for increasing productivity towards food security in future generation, integrated use organic and inorganic fertilizers should be used.&nbsp

Exploring Mental Health Status and Psychosocial Support among Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study

Objectives. Decades of targeted violence, statelessness, and persecution have caused more than a million Rohingyas to flee their homes to Bangladesh. Although basic assistance is being provided, these refugees are living in highly challenging circumstances. The burden of mental health among these refugees is believed to be widespread; however, the extent of these problems is yet to be fully ascertained. We, therefore, conducted a qualitative study to explore the mental health status and psychosocial support among the Rohingya refugees. Methods. A participatory, qualitative research was conducted among the Rohingya refugees, guided by a multidisciplinary team of experts. A mix of purposive sampling, snowball sampling, and random sampling techniques was applied. The participants were randomly selected to ensure the representation of vulnerable groups and physically disabled people. Data were collected by using pretested semi-structured questionnaire and a health facility assessment checklist. The data were analysed using SPSS (version 24) and thematic content analysis techniques. Results. There is a high prevalence of mental health and psychological problems among the Rohingya refugees, but most of the problems are hidden or remained unnoticed. Daily stressors were found to be widespread and associated with social insecurity, lack of livelihood opportunities, and past trauma history of the participants. Conclusions. Stigma and cultural interpretation of mental health among Rohingya are unique and are different from the host population of Bangladesh. To address such huge and challenging problems, all partners working in the humanitarian assistance and development programs in Bangladesh need to provide integrated, effective, and culturally appropriate services to the Rohingya population

Integrating capacity development during digital health research: a case study from global health

Background: The Bloomberg Data for Health Initiative Research and Development Arm at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, has thus far collected NCD risk factor data from more than 13,000 citizens of three LMICs (Bangladesh, Tanzania and Uganda), and has actively worked to improve capacity with partners worldwide. Objective: This paper focuses on how a research project, can also act as a capacity building activity through its research into collecting non-communicable disease risk factor data using different mobile phone modalities. Methods: This paper evaluates the activities undertaken by the project using the ESSENCE Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for Research Capacity Strengthening. Results: The project was able to successfully integrate meaningful capacity development activities across all partners. Training, networking, sharing resources, joint data collection, and analysis across individual, organizational and project levels were some of the strategies used. The ESSENCE framework allowed a good assessment strategy for this type of work. Conclusions: This paper highlights the value of making capacity development a high priority for digital health research activities, while also considering the need to monitor and evaluate those activities in order for them to be meaningful and sustainable. It also considers how to utilize the ESSENCE Framework to evaluate capacity development activities through research, and how best to adapt the Framework to different programs

Prevalence of Eye Problems among Young Infants of Rohingya Refugee Camps: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey

Early detection of pediatric eye problems can prevent future vision loss. This study was to estimate the prevalence of common eye problems among infants born in a resource-constrained emergency setting with a broader aim to prevent future vision loss or blindness among them through early detection and referral. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 670 infants (0&ndash;59 days old) born in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh between March and June of 2019. The most common eye problem found was watering from the eye and accumulation of discharge by which 14.8% of the children were suffering (95% CI: 12.2&ndash;17.7). More than 5% of the infants had visual inattention (95% CI: 3.5&ndash;7.0), and 4% had redness in their eyes (95% CI: 2.7&ndash;5.8). Only 1.9% of infants (95% CI: 1&ndash;3.3) had whitish or brown eyeballs, and 1.8% of children might have whitish pupillary reflex (95% CI: 0.9&ndash;3.1). None of the eye problems was associated with the gender of the infants. The prevalent eye problems demand eye care set up for the screening of eye problems in the camps with proper referral and availability of referral centres with higher service in the districts

Spatial Differences in Diet Quality and Economic Vulnerability to Food Insecurity in Bangladesh: Results from the 2016 Household Income and Expenditure Survey

The study explored the spatial differences in diet quality and economic vulnerability to food insecurity with the association of sociodemographic characteristics at the household level in Bangladesh. This study was a secondary data analysis of Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) data of 2016. Both statistical and spatial analyses were applied while assessing diet qualities in terms of the household dietary diversity score (HDDS), percentage of food energy from staples (PFES), and percentage of expenditure on food (PEF) as an indicator of the economic vulnerability to food insecurity (EVFI). The study’s findings revealed that the quality of people’s diets worsened as they moved from urban to rural area, and EVFI increased as they moved from the center to the periphery of the country. Nationally, the average HDDS was about 6.3, and the average PFES per household per day was about 70.4%. The spatial distribution of HDDS and PFES showed that rural regions in terms of settlements and the north, northwest and southeast regions had mostly low diet diversity. Besides, the average PEF per household per day was about 54%, with the highest in Mymensingh (57.4%) and the lowest in Dhaka division (50.2%). The average PEF in the households illustrated was highest in rural (55.2%) and lowest in the city (45.7%). Overall, based on the PEF at the sub-district level, the medium level of vulnerability comprised the highest share (69%) in Bangladesh. Age, gender, literacy, educational qualification and religion of the household’s head along with the number of earners, monthly income, area of settlements and divisions were significantly correlated with HDDS, PFES and EVFI. The study findings suggest that targeted interventions, including access to education, women empowerment and employment generation programs should be implemented in peripheral areas (north, northwest and southeast) to increase diet quality and minimize economic vulnerability to achieve sustainable food and nutrition security in Bangladesh

Switchable THz Guided Mode Enhancement in Subwavelength Thick PTFE &#x2014; Polyimide Based Metamaterial Devices

We report an efficient approach to enhance terahertz (THz)-guided modes for realizing subwavelength thick metamaterial devices (MMD). Here, a combination of hollow and slitted rings of the vanadium dioxide ( $VO_{2}$ )-based metasurface, having perfect impedance matching with free space, is considered to cause tight coupling in the unit cells while reducing transverse field components of the boundary. The consolidated dielectric layer of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-polyimide underneath, maintaining a gradual change in refractive indices, brings about further improvement for a broader spectrum. Through strategic and systematic design steps, a maximum impedance bandwidth of 5.68 THz, ranging from 4.42 to 10.10 THz, has been achieved here from a structure thinner than a wavelength. Additionally, mode-independent polarization insensitivity and tunability are attained through the symmetrical unit cell pattern of temperature-dependent $VO_{2}$ . Optimized design parameters agree with interference cancellation theory too. Validation of our presented design is performed using theoretical analysis based on equivalent circuit theory. The proposed design offers a new avenue for designing ultra-thin broadband absorbers, light modulators, etc