COPING WITH NATURAL DISASTERS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE COASTAL ZONE OF BANGLADESH

Coastal zone of Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to different nature induced hydrological and climatological disasters. Disaster disproportionately affects a different group of populations. Among them, “people with disabilities” (PWDs) regardless of their gender face severe challenges in a disaster situation. The response mechanisms of disabled people in disaster context are also different. This paper aimed to examine the coping strategies of PWDs with a natural disaster in the coastal zone of Bangladesh. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 150 disabled people from Mongla sub-district, Rampal sub-district and Sharankhola sub-district of Bagerhat district. Most of the respondents (60%) did not receive any training on disaster preparedness but the majority of them (88%) had knowledge on the location of the nearest disaster shelters and took shelter at government listed centers before or during the disaster. They were not satisfied with the facilities and services of those disaster shelters. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the respondents received disaster forecasting through electronic media. More than one-fifth of the respondents (22.7%) changed their occupations after a major disaster and one-fourth of the respondents (26.7%) were displaced or migrated from their original house as a consequence of the disaster. Although disabled people are one of the most vulnerable groups in disaster milieu, they have drawn limited attention by the policymakers, academicians and development organizations. This paper provides few coping strategies of disabled people that will help the policymakers to think and take disabled friendly measures in policy documents and development interventions

Effects of CFRP layer orientation on strengthening of hollow steel elements

U ovom se radu proučavaju utjecaji orijentacije slojeva CFRP traka (polimera ojačanih ugljičnim vlaknima) na poboljšanje nosivosti ojačanih čeličnih kružnih šupljih elemenata. Provedeno je ispitivanje savijanjem uz djelovanje sila u četiri točke, a elementi su opterećeni na savijanje do sloma. Poboljšanje nosivosti ojačanih cijevnih čeličnih elemenata analizirano je s obzirom na silu otkazivanja, krutost, kompozitno djelovanje i vrstu sloma. Nosači armirani CFRP trakama s dva uzdužna sloja i jednim po obodu pokazuju bolje ponašanje od nosača armiranih s jednim uzdužnim slojem i dva sloja po obodu.This paper studies the effects of orientation of CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced polymer) strip layers on the improvement of bearing capacity of strengthened steel-made circular hollow elements. The four point bending test was conducted, and elements were subjected to bending until failure. The improvement of bearing capacity of strengthened tubular steel elements is presented in terms of failure load, stiffness, composite beam action, and modes of failure. Beams strengthened with CFRP strips with two longitudinal layers and one layer along the periphery performed better than the beams reinforced with one longitudinal layer and two layers along the periphery

Effect of various electron and hole transport layers on the performance of CsPbI3-based perovskite solar cells: A numerical investigation in DFT, SCAPS-1D, and wxAMPS frameworks

CsPbI3 has recently received tremendous attention as a possible absorber of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, CsPbI3-based PSCs have yet to achieve the high performance of the hybrid PSCs. In this work, we performed a density functional theory (DFT) study using the Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package (CASTEP) code for the cubic CsPbI3 absorber to compare and evaluate its structural, electronic, and optical properties. The calculated electronic band gap (Eg) using the GGA-PBE approach of CASTEP was 1.483 eV for this CsPbI3 absorber. Moreover, the computed density of states (DOS) exhibited the dominant contribution from the Pb-5d orbital, and most charge also accumulated for the Pb atom as seen from the electronic charge density map. Fermi surface calculation showed multiband character, and optical properties were computed to investigate the optical response of CsPbI3. Furthermore, we used IGZO, SnO2, WS2, CeO2, PCBM, TiO2, ZnO, and C60 as the electron transport layers (ETLs), and Cu2O, CuSCN, CuSbS2, Spiro-MeOTAD, V2O5, CBTS, CFTS, P3HT, PEDOT: PSS, NiO, CuO, and CuI as the hole transport layers (HTLs) to identify the best HTL/CsPbI3/ETL combinations using the SCAPS-1D solar cell simulation software. Among 96 device structures, the best-optimized device structure, ITO/TiO2/CsPbI3/CBTS/Au was identified, which exhibited an efficiency of 17.9%. The effect of absorber and ETL thickness, series resistance, shunt resistance, and operating temperature was also evaluated for the six best devices along with their corresponding generation rate, recombination rate, capacitance-voltage, current density-voltage, and quantum efficiency characteristics. The obtained results from SCAPS-1D were also compared with wxAMPS simulation software.Comment: 34 pages, 12 figures, Supporting Information (3 figures

Unveiling the frontiers of deep learning: innovations shaping diverse domains

Deep learning (DL) enables the development of computer models that are capable of learning, visualizing, optimizing, refining, and predicting data. In recent years, DL has been applied in a range of fields, including audio-visual data processing, agriculture, transportation prediction, natural language, biomedicine, disaster management, bioinformatics, drug design, genomics, face recognition, and ecology. To explore the current state of deep learning, it is necessary to investigate the latest developments and applications of deep learning in these disciplines. However, the literature is lacking in exploring the applications of deep learning in all potential sectors. This paper thus extensively investigates the potential applications of deep learning across all major fields of study as well as the associated benefits and challenges. As evidenced in the literature, DL exhibits accuracy in prediction and analysis, makes it a powerful computational tool, and has the ability to articulate itself and optimize, making it effective in processing data with no prior training. Given its independence from training data, deep learning necessitates massive amounts of data for effective analysis and processing, much like data volume. To handle the challenge of compiling huge amounts of medical, scientific, healthcare, and environmental data for use in deep learning, gated architectures like LSTMs and GRUs can be utilized. For multimodal learning, shared neurons in the neural network for all activities and specialized neurons for particular tasks are necessary.Comment: 64 pages, 3 figures, 3 table

Exposure to urban green spaces and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from two low and lower-middle-income countries

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health globally, with limited access to mental health care affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) the most. In response, alternative strategies to support mental health have been necessary, with access to green spaces being a potential solution. While studies have highlighted the role of green spaces in promoting mental health during pandemic lockdowns, few studies have focused on the role of green spaces in mental health recovery after lockdowns. This study investigated changes in green space access and associations with mental health recovery in Bangladesh and Egypt across the pandemic. METHODS: An online survey was conducted between January and April 2021 after the first lockdown was lifted in Bangladesh (n = 556) and Egypt (n = 660). We evaluated indoor and outdoor greenery, including the number of household plants, window views, and duration of outdoor visits. The quantity of greenness was estimated using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). This index was estimated using satellite images with a resolution of 10x10m during the survey period (January-April 2021) with Sentinel-2 satellite in the Google Earth Engine platform. We calculated averages within 250m, 300m, 500m and 1000m buffers of the survey check-in locations using ArcGIS 10.3. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate relationships between changes in natural exposure and changes in mental health. RESULTS: The results showed that mental health improved in both countries after the lockdown period. People in both countries increased their time spent outdoors in green spaces after the lockdown period, and these increases in time outdoors were associated with improved mental health. Unexpectedly, changes in the number of indoor plants after the lockdown period were associated with contrasting mental health outcomes; more plants translated to increased anxiety and decreased depression. Refocusing lives after the pandemic on areas other than maintaining indoor plants may assist with worrying and feeling panicked. Still, indoor plants may assist with depressive symptoms for people remaining isolated. CONCLUSION: These findings have important implications for policymakers and urban planners in LMICs, highlighting the need to increase access to natural environments in urban areas to improve mental health and well-being in public health emergencies

Impacts Of Fertilizer Application On Soil Properties At Kaharole Upazila Of Dinajpur District In Bangladesh

The study was conducted to investigate the impacts of fertilizer application on soil properties in Kaharole upazila of Dinajpur district in Bangladesh. Samples were collected to analyze the variation of soil nutrients in three cropping seasons: season-1 (March-April, 2013), season-2 (August-September, 2013) and season-3 (January-February, 2014). In each season 10 samples, 6 from conventionally cultivated soil (CCS) and 4 from organic fertilized soil (OFS), were collected from 10 randomly selected sampling points. The study observed acidic soil pH in all three cropping seasons, while soil pH was decreasing gradually with fertilizer application. The results of the study clearly depicted that all the soil nutrient contents and OM decreased with the application of fertilizers in different cropping seasons except Zn and Fe. The OFS contains relatively higher amount of OM and essential nutrients than CCS except Fe and Zn. The study shows that the continuous application of fertilizer in agricultural lands reduces soil fertility evolving nutrient deficiency in the soil; resulting in reduced crop productivity

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: A Rapid Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Widespread vaccination against COVID-19 is critical for controlling the pandemic. Despite the development of safe and efficacious vaccinations, low-and lower-middle income countries (LMICs) continue to encounter barriers to care owing to inequitable access and vaccine apprehension. This study aimed to summarize the available data on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates and factors associated with acceptance in LMICs. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception through August 2021. Quality assessments of the included studies were carried out using the eight-item Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies. We performed a meta-analysis to estimate pooled acceptance rates with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 36 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. A total of 83,867 respondents from 33 countries were studied. Most of the studies were conducted in India (n = 9), Egypt (n = 6), Bangladesh (n = 4), or Nigeria (n = 4). The pooled-effect size of the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate was 58.5% (95% CI: 46.9, 69.7, I2 = 100%, 33 studies) and the pooled vaccine hesitancy rate was 38.2% (95% CI: 27.2–49.7, I2 = 100%, 32 studies). In country-specific sub-group analyses, India showed the highest rates of vaccine acceptancy (76.7%, 95% CI: 65.8–84.9%, I2= 98%), while Egypt showed the lowest rates of vaccine acceptancy (42.6%, 95% CI: 16.6–73.5%, I2= 98%). Being male and perceiving risk of COVID-19 infection were predictors for willingness to accept the vaccine. Increasing vaccine acceptance rates in the global south should be prioritized to advance global vaccination coverage

Mental Health Status of University Students and Working Professionals during the Early Stage of COVID-19 in Bangladesh

A novel coronavirus disease known as COVID-19 has spread globally and brought a public health emergency to all nations. To respond to the pandemic, the Bangladesh Government imposed a nationwide lockdown that may have degraded mental health among residents, in particular, university students and working professionals. We examined clinically significant anxiety levels with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale and perceived stress levels with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4) in an online cross-sectional study with 744 adults. Approximately 70% of respondents were afflicted with clinically significant anxiety levels, and more than 43.82% were afflicted with moderate or high perceived stress levels. Multivariate logistic regression models showed that postgraduates (OR = 2.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03–8.75, p < 0.05) were more likely to experience anxiety than their student counterparts. No such differences emerged for working professionals, however. Living with family members compared to living alone was a risk factor for perceived stress among working professionals (OR = 4.05, 95% CI = 1.45–11.32, p < 0.05). COVID-19 stressors such as financial hardship (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.11–3.05, p < 0.05) and worries of family members’ health (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.12–2.99) were risk factors for anxiety among students. Questionable social media news exposure (OR = 2.99, 95% CI = 1.13–7.92, p < 0.05) contributed to the development of mental stress among working professionals. These findings confirm that effective initiatives and proactive efforts from concerned authorities are necessary to cope with the mental health correlates of the COVID-19 pandemic, including in developing contexts such as Bangladesh

Knowledge, attitudes, and fear of COVID-19 during the Rapid Rise Period in Bangladesh

The study aims to determine the level of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) related to COVID-19 preventive health habits and perception of fear towards COVID-19 in subjects living in Bangladesh. Design: Prospective, cross-sectional survey of (n = 2157) male and female subjects, 13–88 years of age, living in Bangladesh. Methods: Ethical approval and trial registration were obtained before the commencement of the study. Subjects who volunteered to participate and signed the informed consent were enrolled in the study and completed the structured questionnaire on KAP and Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S). Results: Twenty-eight percent (28.69%) of subjects reported one or more COVID-19 symptoms, and 21.4% of subjects reported one or more co-morbidities. Knowledge scores were slightly higher in males (8.75± 1.58) than females (8.66± 1.70). Knowledge was significantly correlated with age (p < .005), an education level (p < .001), attitude (p < .001), and urban location (p < .001). Knowledge scores showed an inverse correlation with fear scores (p < .001). Eighty-three percent (83.7%) of subjects with COVID-19 symptoms reported wearing a mask in public, and 75.4% of subjects reported staying away from crowded places. Subjects with one or more symptoms reported higher fear compared to subjects without (18.73± 4.6; 18.45± 5.1). Conclusion: Bangladeshis reported a high prevalence of self-isolation, positive preventive health behaviors related to COVID-19, and moderate to high fear levels. Higher knowledge and Practice were found in males, higher education levels, older age, and urban location. Fear of COVID-19 was more prevalent in female and elderly subjects. A positive attitude was reported for the majority of subjects, reflecting the belief that COVID-19 was controllable and containable