Observing molecular hydrogen clouds and dark massive objects in galactic halos

Molecular hydrogen clouds can contribute substantially to the galactic halo< dark matter and may lead to the birth of massive halo objects (MHOs) observed indirectly by microlensing. We present a method to detect these molecular clouds in the halo of M31 using the Doppler shift effect. We also consider the possibility to directly observe MHOs in the halo of M31 via their infrared emission.Comment: 7 pages, postscript file, to appear in Astron. & Astrophy

Determinants of Success and Failure of Entrepreneurs of SMEs in Bangladesh- An Explorative Study

Entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship are significantly correlated with the economic development of a country. Entrepreneurs cannot easily succeed in doing successful business venture without facing risk that arises from internal and external conditions. So, the present study has been undertaken in order to identify the factors contributing to the success; and influencing the failure of entrepreneurs of SMEs in Bangladesh by employing  sophisticated multivariate technique-Varimax Rotated Factor Analytical Technique. The study has collected and used only primary data; and consulted available literature for designing the questionnaire and study. The study has considered 18 variables responsible for failure, and 10 variables contributing to the success of entrepreneurs. The study has identified factors responsible for success of Entrepreneurs of SMEs: Relationship Factor; and Organization Factor in order of magnitude. It has identified factors influencing the failure of Entrepreneurs of SMEs: sustainable Factor, Supply Factor, and Product Related Factor in order of magnitude. The study has suggested entrepreneurs of SMEs to consider these factors while developing policies and strategies for SMEs

Determinants of Success and Failure of Entrepreneurs of SMEs in Bangladesh- An Explorative Study

Entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship are significantly correlated with the economic development of a country. Entrepreneurs cannot easily succeed in doing successful business venture without facing risk that arises from internal and external conditions. So, the present study has been undertaken in order to identify the factors contributing to the success; and influencing the failure of entrepreneurs of SMEs in Bangladesh by employing sophisticated multivariate technique-Varimax Rotated Factor Analytical Technique. The study has collected and used only primary data; and consulted available literature for designing the questionnaire and study. The study has considered 18 variables responsible for failure, and 10 variables contributing to the success of entrepreneurs. The study has identified factors responsible for success of Entrepreneurs of SMEs: Relationship Factor; and Organization Factor in order of magnitude. It has identified factors influencing the failure of Entrepreneurs of SMEs: sustainable Factor, Supply Factor, and Product Related Factor in order of magnitude. The study has suggested entrepreneurs of SMEs to consider these factors while developing policies and strategies for SMEs

Information services provision for access and utilization of agricultural science students in national agricultural extension research and liaison services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,

This study investigated Information Services Provision for Access and Utilization of Agricultural Science Students in National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The study aimed at finding out the types of agricultural information services required for access and use by agricultural science students from NAERLS, ABU, Zaria and the level of awareness of agricultural science students on agricultural information services provided by NAERLS, ABU, Zaria. The study adopted quantitative research method using descriptive research design. The population of the study was 995 and a sample size of 320 was drawn for the study from agricultural science students in Faculty of Agriculture, ABU, Zaria. Questionnaire was the instrument used and in order to incorporate all respondents in all levels, proportionate stratified random sampling technique was used in selecting respondents for the study. Data collected were sorted and analysed using frequency tables, simple percentages and descriptive mean of Standard Deviation. Findings revealed that agricultural science students of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria access and use Technical/Scientific and Commercial Agricultural Information Services and are aware of these services. Consequently, the study recommended that NAERLS and her international bodies should create more awareness on the availability of these agricultural information services as they are of importance to the entire students of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and not the agricultural science students alone. Also efforts should be intensified on creating a pact between NAERLS, their international agencies and their immediate environment which they are expected to serve on the available services for effective and efficient use. Keywords: Information Provision, Access, Utilization, Agricultural Extension Information&nbsp

Study on the efficacy of ceftriaxone versus azithromycin for the treatment of uncomplicated enteric fever among the patients admitted in a tertiary level hospital

Background: Typhoid fever is a severe debilitating and potentially life threating illness. In Bangladesh, typhoid fever is a round the year problem which sometimes take epidemic proportions. The reasons behind such occurrences are unsafe water supply, defective sewage system and unhygienic food handling practice. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of ceftriaxone and azithromycin in the treatment of uncomplicated enteric fever.Methods: An observational study was conducted at the department of pharmacology in Dhaka medical college, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data were collected from blood culture positive patients for Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi, who admitted in the Dhaka medical college and hospital, Dhaka during the period of July 2015 to June 2016. Data was collected by using a structured questioner, face to face interview, physical examination and investigation reports. Patients were hospitalized during the entire treatment period and at admission evaluation was made by history and physical examination in a structured format. Subjects ware asked regarding changes in symptoms and possible adverse effects of the study drugs. All patients were asked to return two weeks after completion of treatment for follow up. Blood culture of Salmonella typhi or Salmonella paratyphi were done in all cases. Total 91 patients were culture positive for either S. typhi or S. paratyphi which were finally studied.Results: During the study period out of 91 patients, 51 were receiving ceftriaxone and 40 were receiving azithromycin. Clinical cure was achieved in 46 patients (90%) of ceftriaxone group and in 31 patients (78%) in the azithromycin group. There were no significant differences of clinical cure between both treatment groups (p>0.05). Mean fever clearance time in ceftriaxone group was 3±1.4 days and was 4±1.6 days for azithromycin group. Difference in fever clearance time was statistically significant (p<0.05). No clinical relapses were detected in any study subject. No major side effects of both drugs occurred in any subject.Conclusions: These results indicated that both ceftriaxone and azithromycin were effective against enteric fever caused by sensitive organisms and multi drug resistant S. typhi and S. paratyphi. It is concluded that ceftriaxone is more effective and can be a convenient alternative for the treatment of enteric fever, especially in developing countries like us where medical resources are scarce

Assessment of fish pond sediments for growth, yield and nutritional quality of Indian spinach (Basella alba L.)

Integrated farming system is a very effective tool for improving rural economy. Our present study was carried out in different pond dykes of Dumuria upazila of Khulna district, Bangladesh to investigate the effect of different fish pond sediments on growth, yield and subsequently analyze the nutritional quality of Indian spinach. The experiment consisted of two factors&nbsp;viz.,&nbsp;pond types (P) (three different ponds growing different fish species: P1&nbsp;= prawn and carp, P2&nbsp;= prawn and mola, and P3=prawn, mola and carp) and each pond was cultivated with different fish species with different population densities); and pond sediments (M) (three levels: M1&nbsp;= pond dyke soil, M2&nbsp;=50% pond mud and 50% pond dyke soil, and M3&nbsp;=100% pond mud).&nbsp; Physical and chemical properties of three ponds dyke soil as well as sediments were analyzed. Parameters studied on Indian spinach were growth, yield and nutritional qualities. Pond sediments were better quality due to well decomposition and microbial activity of sediments compared to dyke soil of ponds. Organic matter of pond sediment was 2.79 (P3) and EC was 790 (µc/cm). Plant height was varied from 10 to 19% due to the ponds type and sediment effects. Mostly, the plant growth was found better under the supplement of 100% pond sediments compared to dyke soil (M1) and mixed soil (M2). The highest yield was found in P3M3&nbsp;and it was varied from 20 to 25%.&nbsp; Minerals like Ca (%), P (%), and S (mg/100g) were found statistically significantly higher in P2M3&nbsp;compared to other treatments combinations. Nutrition like Vit A and Vit C were the highest (81.33 µg/100 g and 106.14 mg/100 g, respectively) found significantly higher in P2M3. Therefore, the pond mud (50% and 100%) can be used to increase the yield and nutrient uptake by the crop which can facilitate to reduce eutrophication and fertilizer for the better environment.&nbsp;&nbsp

Low-loss Waveguides for THz Guidance and Devices

The terahertz (THz) region occupies a large portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, located between the microwave and optical frequencies and normally is defined as the band ranging from 0.1 to 10 THz. In recent years, this intermediate THz radiation band has attracted considerable interest, because it offers significant scientific and technological potential for applications in many fields, such as sensing [1], imaging [2] and spectroscopy [3]. However, waveguiding in this intermediate spectral region is a major challenge and strong dielectric and conductive losses in the terahertz frequency range have been a major problem for waveguiding. The conventional guiding structures exemplified by microstrips, coplanar striplines and coplanar waveguides [4] are highly lossy and dispersive. However, so far the most promising dielectric waveguides have been the use of photonic crystal fibers at terahertz frequencies [5, 6] and metal coated guides [7] at terahertz frequencies. In this paper, various types of practical dielectric and metal coated waveguides are evaluated and design optimization of Quantum Cascade Lasers, MMI-based power splitters and narrow-band filters are presented, by using full-vectorial finite element method [8]. © (2013) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only

Characterization of graphene-based devices for THz Systems

The H-field finite element method (FEM) based full-vector formulation is used in the present work to study the vectorial modal field properties and the complex propagation characteristics of Surface Plasmon modes of a hollow-core dielectric coated rectangular waveguide structures, and graphene based structures. Additionally, the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method is used to estimate the dispersion parameters and the propagation loss of such waveguides and devices

Low-loss Waveguides and Devices for Compact THz Systems

A rigorous full-vectorial modal solution approach based on the finite element method is used to find the propagation properties of THz waveguides. Design approaches are presented to reduce the modal loss. Design of several THz devices, including quantum cascade lasers, plasmonic waveguides, power splitters and narrow-band filters are also presented