Frequent mental distress among adults in the United States and its association with socio-demographic characteristics, unhealthy lifestyle, and chronic physical health status

Frequent mental distress (FMD) is a measure of poor mental health days for at least 14 days out of 30 days. It is one of the important dimensions of the health-related quality of life. The underlying causes of FMD are diverse. However, the issue has not been explored extensively due to the lack of reliable data on mental health. The aim of this study was to examine the level and trends of FMD among the adults of the United States (US) and identify the socio-demographic, lifestyles, and chronic health outcomes related correlates of FMD. The data for the study was obtained from the publicly available 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in the US, covering a large sample of 418,268 adult respondents from all the 50 states and participating territories. Respondents from each state and territory were identified by selecting the telephone number from the telephone directory following a systematic sampling design. To examine the trends in the prevalence of FMD, data from the 2010-2018 BRFSS were also utilized. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, including multiple logistic regression models were employed to analyze the data. Results indicated that about 12% of the adults in the US experienced FMD, and the prevalence of FMD is increasing overtime. Females, students, adults aged below 35 years, multiracial, less educated, single, low income, and underweight individuals were found to have a higher risk of FMD. FMD was found to be significantly associated with unhealthy lifestyles and chronic health conditions. This study findings highlight the importance of interventions for mental health promotion and mental illness prevention, substance use prevention, screening and treatment services of FMD, and increased provision of resources to address social and economic determinants of FMD

Haemoglobin E/Beta Thalassaemia- A Study in BSMMU

Background: Thalassaemias and haemoglobinopathies have been found sporadically in every ethnic group and geographic region, they occur with particularly high frequency from the shores of the Mediterranean and Africa through the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Burma and Southeast Asia. Objective: The study was designed to find out the incidence of HbE/beta thalassaemia in BSMMU. Method: A total of 700 patients suspected to have been suffering from haemolytic anaemia were included in the study. Patients having evidence of haemolysis in peripheral blood film were selected for reticulocyte count and haemoglobin electrophoresis in cellulose acetate membrane at pH 8.6. Result: The study group of 700 patients underwent Hb-electrophoresis of which only 52 (7.4%) cases were diagnosed as HbE/beta thalassaemia. Out of 52 cases, 34 (65.4%) patients were found symptomatic and the remaining 18 (34.6%) patients were asymptomatic. Out of 34 symptomatic cases of HbE/beta thalassaemia, only 14 cases needed blood transfusion. Among the 14 patients, only 8 patients needed more than 10 units of transfusion and 6 patients needed frequent transfusion that is two units of blood in every month. Conclusion: It is clearly evident from the present and other studied so far carried out in this Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia that hereditary haemolytic anaemia due to globin chain defects are quite common in this region, especially in Bangladesh and are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality. Key words: Thalassaemia; Haemoglobinopathies; HbE/beta thalassemia. DOI: 10.3329/bsmmuj.v2i2.4762 BSMMU J 2009; 2(2): 78-8

A Novel Jamming Attacks Detection Approach Based on Machine Learning for Wireless Communication

Jamming attacks target a wireless network creating an unwanted denial of service. 5G is vulnerable to these attacks despite its resilience prompted by the use of millimeter wave bands. Over the last decade, several types of jamming detection techniques have been proposed, including fuzzy logic, game theory, channel surfing, and time series. Most of these techniques are inefficient in detecting smart jammers. Thus, there is a great need for efficient and fast jamming detection techniques with high accuracy. In this paper, we compare the efficiency of several machine learning models in detecting jamming signals. We investigated the types of signal features that identify jamming signals, and generated a large dataset using these parameters. Using this dataset, the machine learning algorithms were trained, evaluated, and tested. These algorithms are random forest, support vector machine, and neural network. The performance of these algorithms was evaluated and compared using the probability of detection, probability of false alarm, probability of miss detection, and accuracy. The simulation results show that jamming detection based random forest algorithm can detect jammers with a high accuracy, high detection probability and low probability of false alarm

Eco-friendly Entrepreneurship to Promote Plastic Alternatives

Plastic production has become a global concern, including in Bangladesh. Among all types of plastic products, single-use plastic is considered treacherous and the most responsible for damaging the natural environment. To replace plastics on a daily usage basis, the entrepreneurs of Bangladesh have reiterated some initiatives to manufacture and promote plastic alternatives. This study aims to assess the market potential, existing challenges, and users’/customers’ perceptions of the plastic alternative industry in Bangladesh. Key informant interviews (KIIs) with structured questionnaires were conducted among 15 plastic alternative entrepreneurs and 30 customers through online platforms. The framework analysis method was used to analyse and interpret the collected data. Despite highlighting some challenges, plastic alternative entrepreneurs contribute significantly to replacing plastic products, and the market potential is quite promising for this industry. Moreover, this study portrays an efficacious inclination of consumer behaviours towards using plastic alternatives. By following the concept of the green economy, the entrepreneurs of the plastic alternative industry in Bangladesh are gradually able to replace plastic products and contribute toward building a sustainable city

Fry production, induced breeding practices and cost-profit analysis of the hatcheries of Rajshahi district in Bangladesh

This study was conducted on the 13 hatcheries of Rajshahi district from March to December 2013 to know about the fry production status, induced breeding practices and cost-profit status. Average fry production of Labeo rohita, 93.38±83.32 kg, Catla catla, 62.00±60.84 kg, Cirrhinus cirrhosus, 77.46±58.61 kg, L. calbasu, 14.20±14.60 kg, L. bata, 53.73±50.56 kg, L. gonia, 10.00±0 kg, Heteropneustes fossilis, 5.00±0 kg, Clarias batrachus, 20.00±0 kg, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, 149.77±138.45 kg, Aristichthys nobilis, 104.54±148.11 kg, Ctenopharyngodon idella, 19.20±15.35 kg, Cyprinus carpio 108.08±77.39 kg and Barbonymus gonionotus, 23.10±14.04 kg were recorded in the surveyed hatcheries. Two types of hormone injections PG (pituitary gland) and HCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin) were used for induced breeding. The rate of 1st dose of injection of PG varied from 1 to 2 mg/kg and HCG from 100-150 IU/kg and the rate of 2nd dose of injection of PG varied between 5 and 8 mg/kg. The incubation period and hatching rate in different fish species varied from 10 to 72 hours and 55% to 80%, respectively. The average total cost, gross return and net profit of the hatcheries were 0.667±0.798, 1.152±1.636 and 0.485±0.846 million BDT respectively

Diagnosed hematological malignancies in Bangladesh - a retrospective analysis of over 5000 cases from 10 specialized hospitals

Background The global burden from cancer is rising, especially as low-income countries like Bangladesh observe rapid aging. So far, there are no comprehensive descriptions reporting diagnosed cancer group that include hematological malignancies in Bangladesh. Methods This was a multi-center hospital-based retrospective descriptive study of over 5000 confirmed hematological cancer cases in between January 2008 to December 2012. Morphological typing was carried out using the “French American British” classification system. Results A total of 5013 patients aged between 2 to 90 years had been diagnosed with malignant hematological disorders. A 69.2% were males (n = 3468) and 30.8% females (n = 1545), with a male to female ratio of 2.2:1. The overall median age at diagnosis was 42 years. Acute myeloid leukemia was most frequent (28.3%) with a median age of 35 years, followed by chronic myeloid leukemia with 18.2% (median age 40 years), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (16.9%; median age 48 years), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (14.1%; median age 27 years), multiple myeloma (10.5%; median age 55 years), myelodysplastic syndromes (4.5%; median age 57 years) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (3.9%; median age 36 years). The least common was chronic lymphocytic leukemia (3.7%; median age 60 years). Below the age of 20 years, acute lymphoblastic leukemia was predominant (37.3%), followed by acute myeloid leukemia (34%). Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma had mostly occurred among older patients, aged 50-over. Conclusions For the first time, our study presents the pattern and distribution of diagnosed hematological cancers in Bangladesh. It shows differences in population distributions as compared to other settings with possibly a lower presence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. There might be under-reporting of affected women. Further studies are necessary on the epidemiology, genetics and potential environmental risk factors within this rapidly aging country

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Incentives, barriers and measures for increased recycling among students in student dorms : a behavioral case study on students living in selective SiÅs housings

Waste sorting and recycling has become an important goal in environmental policy. As a result waste management practices has changed radically in many countries around the world. One of the major problems in the management of the waste is the inadequate sorting practices. Increasing awareness of the problem and the environmental impact has the potential to adopt better habits and influence higher degree of material recovery. This master thesis has been prepared with supervision from my supervisor in NMBU, with the aim to increase the knowledge about recycling behavior, attitude and barriers that influence the sorting of household waste among the students of SiÅs. The knowledge attained is intended to be helpful towards initiating future measures to improve the sorting system and the conditions in the dorms. The research questions are answered by using the data obtained from self-composed survey that has been distributed to student housings Pentagon 1, Pentagon 2, Palisadden and Ponoma in week 40-41. The analysis of the results of this study are based on the research questions. The method chapter describes the objects of study and choice of data and research design. A quantitative research design is applied to generalize the results for the rest of the student population. The results of the data are analyzed by using the IBM SPSS analysis tool. The following statistical tests are conducted in the evaluation of the results: descriptive analysis, cross tabs with chi-square test and fisher’s exact test. The analysis of the data indicate that gender, housing type, place of origin, family background are all descriptive of positive or negative recycling habits and attitudes. Furthermore, students who have balanced environment and good practices towards waste recycling from home, develops deteriorating habits when met with worse system than the one they are used to. The two most important barriers that are mapped among the students are i) lack of time, will and involvements of others and ii) access or availability of good sorting system for waste. There is high demand for more information and knowledge regarding the sorting system available to the students. The provision of more information regarding waste recycling and the sorting system along with the weekly checkup is considered a motivating factor. Better system and opportunity to sort plastic is the most demanded measure among the respondents.Avfallssortering og gjenvinning har blitt et viktig mål i miljøpolitikken. Som følge av dette har avfallshåndteringspraksisen endret seg radikalt i mange land rundt omkring i verden. Et av de store problemene ved avfallshåndtering er den utilstrekkelige sorteringspraksisen. Ved å øke bevisstheten om problemet og om miljøpåvirkningen er det potensiale til å innføre bedre vaner og oppnå høyere materialgjenvinning. Denne masteroppgaven er utarbeidet med veiledning fra min veileder i NMBU, med sikte på å øke kunnskapen om gjenvinningsadferden, holdningen og barrierer som påvirker sorteringen av husholdningsavfall blant studenter i SiÅs. Den oppnådde kunnskapen er ment til å være til hjelp for å iverksette fremtidige tiltak for å forbedre sorteringssystemet og forholdene i studentboligene.M-FORN