Use and Access of Grey Literature by the Scholars of Aligarh Muslim University with reference to Arts, Social Sciences, and Sciences: A Study

The aim of this study is to examine the use and access of grey literature by Scholars of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and to evaluate the grey literature contents along with general contents in AMU Repository. The study used a quantitative approach using the survey method to collect data by applying the questionnaire as a tool and analyzing the archived resources in AMU repository. Results showed that the Thesis is the highest in number among other archived resources in AMU Repository. Based on the survey, majority of the Scholars opted Theses & Dissertations as the most essential resources for their research activities, whereby they expressed the need of an information system for effective retrieval of grey resources from diverse access points within/outside the campus. There have been various studies in the past on grey literature, but none have intended to cover the use of grey literature by Scholars of Aligarh Muslim University

DYNAMICS OF EXCHANGE RATE AND FOREX RESERVES IN BANGLADESH: WAYS TO STABILIZE FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE

The exchange rate and foreign exchange reserves stand as pivotal determinants profoundly impacting external and overall economic conditions. A sustained equilibrium in exchange rates alongside robust reserve levels is imperative for managing inflation and fostering favorable trade balances, thereby, bolstering the nation's holistic economic well-being. This study scrutinizes the dynamic interplay of exchange rates and forex reserves in Bangladesh, drawing upon meticulously curated data from Bangladesh Bank and bruegel.org. Methodologically, the investigation relies on rigorous trend and growth models to elucidate pertinent patterns. The analysis unveils a phase of exchange rate stability vis-à-vis the USD to BDT currency pair pre-2022, followed by a marked escalation in recent years attributable to localized currency devaluation. Noteworthy is the trajectory divergence observed between the Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER), demonstrating a downward trend, and the Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER), exhibiting a contrasting upward trajectory surpassing NEER. Moreover, a conspicuous surge in forex reserves is evident until early 2022, succeeded by a precipitous decline to precarious levels. This downturn is ascribed to multifaceted factors encompassing the Ukraine conflict, volatility in oil prices, burgeoning foreign debt obligations of public and private entities, dwindling Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows, and diminished remittances. The governmental response has entailed the adoption of short-term strategies aimed at mitigating exchange rate volatility and preserving forex reserves. While certain measures have proven efficacious, others have fallen short of desired outcomes. In pursuit of exchange rate stability, the central bank has instituted a crawling peg exchange rate regime, complemented by governmental interventions restricting imports to safeguard forex reserves. Achieving equilibrium mandates concerted governmental endeavors to invigorate remittance and FDI inflows, thus fostering a more robust economic landscape. JEL:  F31, G18, O24  Article visualizations

Farmer’s Awareness on Effective Delivery of Farm Information through ICT Mediated Extension Service in Bangladesh

The main focus of the study was to find out the level of awareness about effective delivery of farm information to the farmers through ICT mediated extension service in Bangladesh. The factors influencing awareness of the farmers and the problems faced by the farmers in getting farm information were also explored. Data were collected from a sample of 100 farmers out of 700. A structured interview schedule and check list were used in collection of data through face to face interviewing and focus group discussion (FGD) during October to November in 2012. The awareness was measured by using a 3 point rating scale and appropriate weights were assigned to each of the responses. By adding the weights of responses awareness score was calculated. The effectiveness of ICT mediated extension services was considered based on amount of information being supplied, acceptability, diversity, demand driven and outcome in using information by the farmers. About two-thirds (68 percent) of the farmers had moderate awareness while almost one fourth (26 percent) having high and only 6 percent had low awareness about effective delivery of farm information by ICT centers. The level of education, farm size, family size, annual income, training exposure, organizational participation and extension media contact of the farmers were significantly correlated with their awareness. The stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that out of 9, four variables such as organizational participation, annual income, farm size and family size of the farmers combinedly explain 50 percent variance regarding awareness of effective delivery of farm information. Rendering inadequate services of field extension agents, frequent power disruption, lack of skilled manpower (extension agents) at ICT centers, lack of training facilities for the farmers, and poor supervision and monitoring of field extension activities were the major problems as mentioned by the farmers for effective dissemination of farm information

Impact: Making a difference

The purpose of this document is to explore the diversity of perspectives on school improvement. It also chronicles the programme activities at PDCN, the rationale and evolution of the model Whole School Improvement Programme (WSIP), and the process and modus operandi of the working team of PDCN. It also portrays the modified version of WSIP, its impact on school improvement and the challenges that have emerged from it, along with our recommendations for further improvement

Training curriculum on e-government: An empirical study on senior civil servants of Bangladesh

E-Government is to be ensured for good governance. There is a limited work in Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) to identify the need for e-Government knowledge and skill as well as attitude at the level of Joint Secretary. Therefore, the outcome of the research would contribute to identify the e-Government training need areas in terms of knowledge, skill and attitude of senior civil servant of Bangladesh, for which Senior Staff Course (SSC) curriculum may be redesigned.The objective of this study was to identify and assess the training needs of the participants of SSC to modify the Information and Computer Technology (ICT) curriculum of SSC; specifically to identify the relevant area of knowledge and skill of the SSC participant towards ensuring e-Government; to determine and identify the training need/module for SSC to manage e-Government and to suggest for policy guideline. As a research instrument this study is used structured questionnaire. This study extracted the core areas of training need related to e- government knowledge and skill and attitude. Thus, Principal Component Analysis has done with those core areas of skill and knowledge. Descriptive statistical results revealed that all those areas have high and significant relationship among the major variables and achieved high score of mean value. Descriptive statistics reveals that among the four major variables those are: ‘ICT Skill’; ‘E-government Management’;‘E-government Skill’; and ‘Attitude’ have relationship and those are important for Senior Level Civil Servant. But the mean score of those variables are not high as it is required. Therefore, these are the potential areas for the Joint Secretary Level official to formulate E-Government training module

Neural network controller for two-degree-freedom helicopter control system

Now a day automatic flight control is a crucial issue especially for emergency services. One of the fittest candidates for such services is two-degree-freedom (2DOF) helicopter. Automatic control features of 2-DOF helicopter are usually approximated using the linear quadratic regulator (LQR), which can be further enhanced in-terms of Neural Network (NN). Hence, this paper presents the nonlinear flight control of 2DOF helicopter using NN. A back propagation, feed forward NN model is developer and employed to approximate the nonlinear control features of 2DOF helicopter using Matlab software. The effectiveness of the basic 2DOF helicopter NN controller is apparent (~ 2% pitch and 14% yaw improvement) compared to the conventional (LQR) methods

An End-to-End Authentication Mechanism for Wireless Body Area Networks

Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) ensures high-quality healthcare services by endowing distant and continual monitoring of patients' health conditions. The security and privacy of the sensitive health-related data transmitted through the WBAN should be preserved to maximize its benefits. In this regard, user authentication is one of the primary mechanisms to protect health data that verifies the identities of entities involved in the communication process. Since WBAN carries crucial health data, every entity engaged in the data transfer process must be authenticated. In literature, an end-to-end user authentication mechanism covering each communicating party is absent. Besides, most of the existing user authentication mechanisms are designed assuming that the patient's mobile phone is trusted. In reality, a patient's mobile phone can be stolen or comprised by malware and thus behaves maliciously. Our work addresses these drawbacks and proposes an end-to-end user authentication and session key agreement scheme between sensor nodes and medical experts in a scenario where the patient's mobile phone is semi-trusted. We present a formal security analysis using BAN logic. Besides, we also provide an informal security analysis of the proposed scheme. Both studies indicate that our method is robust against well-known security attacks. In addition, our scheme achieves comparable computation and communication costs concerning the related existing works. The simulation shows that our method preserves satisfactory network performance

Non-invasive blood glucose concentration level estimation accuracy using ultra-wide band and artificial intelligence

Diabetes becomes a rapidly increasing global epidemic and getting serious health concern worldwide. There is no remedy except systematic management to keep blood glucose level under control. To achieve that regular glucose level monitoring is a routine task for a patient. This involves collection of blood physically from body with some discomfort and measuring using some device. To overcome this disadvantages and distress, non-invasive blood glucose measurement system is in demand. This article presents an ultra-wide band (UWB) microwave imaging and artificial intelligence based prospective solution to detect blood glucose concentration level non-invasively (without physical blood). The system consists of a pair of small UWB biomedical planar antenna, UWB transceiver as hardware and an artificial neural network with signal acquisition and processing interface as software module. The UWB signal with center frequency of 4.7 GHz was transmitted through ear lobe and forward scattering signals were received from other side. Characteristics features of received signal were extracted for pattern recognition and detection through deep artificial neural network. The system exhibits around 88% accuracy to detect glucose concentration in blood plasma. Besides, it is affordable, safe, user friendly and can be used with comfort in near future

Suppression of inflammatory mediators by aqueous leaf extract of Crotalaria verrucosa: in vivo and in vitro analysis

Background: Crotalaria verrucosa is a traditional plant frequently prescribed by the tribes for its medicinal value against inflammation. The present study was designed to investigate the scientific basis for medicinal value in inflammation by in vivo and in vitro analysis.Methods: Anti-inflammatory activity of the plant’s leaf was evaluated by two in vivo methods - carrageenan induced rat paw edema and xylene induced mice ear edema. Moreover, in vitro analysis was performed through heat induced hemolysis and heat induced protein denaturation methods.Results: The inflammation produced by carrageenan and xylene were effectively suppressed by the aqueous leaf extract of C. verrucosa (CVAQ) at 600 mg/kg body weight which was comparable to the standards. In heat induced hemolysis test the extract was able to inhibit the lysis up to 70% at 500 µg/ml whereas in heat induced protein denaturation test it reduces the percentage till 69% at the same concentration.Conclusions: The findings suggested that CVAQ possess moderate to high anti-inflammatory activity when applied in low to high concentrated doses. However, the study can only conclude from this basic evaluation that the extract needs to be further investigated for identifying the potential compound which contributed to such medicinal value of the plant