Blockchain for Transforming International Trade: Bangladesh Perspective

Blockchain is one of the key pillars of the fourth industrial revolution and blockchain become an enormous excitement in many industries including the international trade ecosystem. As we move forward to the fourth industrial revolution, the digitalization of the traditional international trade process is vital. Research on blockchain technology in the field of international trade is very limited. The purpose of this qualitative study is to look at the blockchain application in the field of international trade for Bangladesh perspective. To find out a comprehensive view of blockchain in the international trade ecosystem, in-depth primary interview with relevant stakeholders was taken in addition to analyzing secondary data. The study found that blockchain can transform many parts of the existing international trade process in Bangladesh including customs, trade document management, trade method, payment, transport document, certifications and combating fraudulent activities.

Calcium-Mediated Mechanisms of Cystic Expansion

In this review, we will discuss several well-accepted signaling pathways toward calcium-mediated mechanisms of cystic expansion. The second messenger calcium ion has contributed to a vast diversity of signal transduction pathways. We will dissect calcium signaling as a possible mechanism that contributes to renal cyst formation. Because cytosolic calcium also regulates an array of signaling pathways, we will first discuss cilia-induced calcium fluxes, followed by Wnt signaling that has attributed to much-discussed planar cell polarity. We will then look at the relationship between cytosolic calcium and cAMP as one of the most important aspects of cyst progression. The signaling of cAMP on MAPK and mTOR will also be discussed. We infer that while cilia-induced calcium fluxes may be the initial signaling messenger for various cellular pathways, no single signaling mediator or pathway is implicated exclusively in the progression of the cystic expansion. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Polycystic Kidney Disease

Polycystic Diseases in Visceral Organs

Primary cilia are nonmotile, microtubule-based, antenna-like organelles projecting from the apical surface of most mammalian cells. Elegant studies have established the importance of ciliary structure and function in signal transduction and the sensory roles of cilia in maintaining healthy cellular state. In particular, dysfunctional cilia have been implicated in a large number of diseases mainly characterized by the presence of fluid-filled cysts in various organs. Aside from polycystic kidney disease (PKD), however, the roles of cilia in polycystic liver disease (PLD), polycystic pancreas disease (PPD), and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are still very vague. In addition, although gender and sex hormones are known to regulate cyst formation, their roles in regulating physiological functions of cilia need to be further explored

Clinical Evaluation of Siddha herbal formulation Chitramutti Nei (Internal) in the treatment of Azhal pandu (Iron Deficiency Anaemia)

The aim of the study was clinical evaluationof the siddha drug formulation CHITRAMUTTI NEI (INT) in Azhalpandu [Iron Deficiency Anaemia]. Institutional Ethical Committee approval was obtained before the commencement of the trial by submitting the well defined protocol and proforma. [Reg No: F.No.NIS/6-20/IEC/15-16] CTRI registration number: ctri2018/01/011179 The raw drugs were collected from the reputed raw drug market in Chennai. Raw herbs were authenticated at Assistant Professor, Department of Medicinal Botany, NIS. The medicine was prepared as per the standard operating procedure in Gunapadam laboratory, NIS. The Qualitative Analysis was evaluated at of Biochemistry laboratory, NIS..The report showed the presence of Iron and other Minerals such as sulphate, calcium, carbonate, etc., The HPTLC of Chitramutti nei was evaluated at captain srinivasamurthy regional ayurvedha drug development institute, Arumbakkam, Chennai showed the fingerprint at UV 254 nm showed highest peak in 8th peak ( max 44.76% area 63.80% ) which could serve as a marker and it is responsible for biological action. TLC&HPTLC- HPTLC- finger print of Chitramuttinei could serveas a marker and which is responsible for expression of its biological and clinical actions. HPTLC was carried out in UV at 254nm, UV at 366nm to establish the finger printing profile and to show the possibly active phyto chemical constituents. The prepared medicine was subjected to clinical trial at OPD of NIS. Among the 130 patients screened in the OPD of Department of Maruthuvam, 40 patients who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected and all were females. Clinical diagnosis of Azhalpandu was made by Siddha and Modern methodology. After obtaining the Informed Consent from the selected patients, they were administered with chitramutti nei 4ml twice a day with Hotwater, before meals for 45 days with specific diet restrictions. A day before the commencement of the treatment, 200mg. of Agasthiyar kuzhambu with ginger juice to normalize the deranged Pitha Thaathu. All cases 40 were treated in OPD. Assessments and required Lab Investigations were carried out as per protocol and the concerned data was recorded in the proforma. Followups of the patient for next 2 months in the OPD after the trial period were also carried out, without the trial drug. The Statistical analysis showed the datas obtained from the Hematological parameters were statistically significant. Both Hematological and Clinical improvement of the patient was noted. In this Clinical study, the efficacy of the drug in increasing the Hb level was noted in 32(80%) patients. No adverse effects were reported during or after the course of treatment. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic dose of chitramutti nei [4ml-Neikkarandi] mentioned in Chikicha Rathna Deepam is the safety dose level for clinical trial. From the Biochemical studies, chitramutti nei possesses Iron, carbonate, calcium, ammonium, silicate, sulphate, fluoride, oxalate, starch and alkaloid. Adverse reaction of the drug was not observed during the course of the study. In the clinical trial, Out of 40 cases 32(80%) cases showed good improvement, 6(15%) cases moderate improvement, 2 (5%) cases poor improvement and some of the important siddha parameters are stated below. From the Stastical studies, the Mean ± Standard deviation for Haemoglobin before treatment is 9.22 and after treatment is 10.05 which is statistically significant (p<0.0001). From Clinical studies, it is clear that Azhal pandunoi is caused due to derangement of Pitham followed by derangement of Vatham and Kabam. Both objective and subjective improvements were observed in the sample of 40 patients. The Siddha formulation chitramutti nei has been proved clinically to be haematinic(80%). Hence I conclude, the drug is found to be there peutically efficacious, and it can be explored in large sample size for further research in near future

Enhancement of agronomic traits and yield of rice var. ADT 43 grown in typic ustifluvent soil through silicon fertilization

Rice is a rich accumulator of silicon and its supply is essential for the growth and economic yield of rice. Hence, a field experiment was conducted in sandy clay loam soil belonging to Padugai series (Typic ustifluvent) at farmers holding in Kuttalam block, Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu to assess the role of silicon in improving agronomic characters and yield of rice ADT 43, Oryza sativa. The treatments included  T1 -  Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), T2 - RDF + Potassium silicate (FS) - 0.25%, T3- RDF + FS - 0.50%, T4 - RDF +FS - 1.00%, T5­ -RDF + FS - 0.25%, T6 - RDF + FS - 0.50%,  T7­ - RDF + FS - 1.00%,  T8 - RDF + SA - 50 kg ha-1, T9 - RDF + SA - 100 kg ha-1 and T10 - RDF + SA- 150 kg ha-1. From T2 to T4, the foliar spray was done at tillering stage and from T5 to T7, the foliar spray was done at tillering and panicle initiation stage.  The silicon was applied through FS with the rice crop. The soil application of silicon relatively recorded higher growth and yield compared to foliar application. Besides improving different agronomic characters of the rice, the soil application of 50 kg Si ha-1 registered the highest grain yield (6183.3 kg ha-1) and straw yield (6740 kg ha-1) and was comparable with a single foliar spray of 1% Si.  Growth and rice yield increased with Si concentration of 0.25% to 1%.  Thus, the soil application of silicon @50 kg ha-1 through potassium silicate is advocated to realize maximum rice yield

Cryptorchidism and Infertility in Rats with Targeted Disruption of the Adamts16 Locus

A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase with ThromboSpondin motifs16 (ADAMTS-16) is a member of a family of metalloproteinases. Using a novel zinc-finger nuclease based gene-edited rat model harboring a targeted mutation of the Adamts16 locus, we previously reported this gene to be linked to blood pressure regulation. Here we document our observation with this model that Adamts16 is essential for normal development of the testis. Absence of Adamts16 in the homozygous Adamts16(mutant) males resulted in cryptorchidism and male sterility. Heterozygous Adamts16(mutant) males were normal, indicating that this is a recessive trait. Testes of homozygous Adamts16(mutant) males were significantly smaller with significant histological changes associated with the lack of sperm production. Temporal histological assessments of the testis demonstrated that the seminiferous tubules did not support active spermatogenesis, but progressively lost germ cells, accumulated vacuoles and did not have any sperm. These observations, taken together with our previous report of renal abnormalities observed with the same Adamts16(mutant) rats, suggest an important mechanistic link between Adamts16 and the functioning of the male genitourinary system

Targeting metabolic health promotion to optimise maternal and offspring health

There is an increase in maternal metabolic burden due to the rise in pregnancies complicated by obesity, gestational diabetes, type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome. Metabolic dysfunction during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of long-term morbidity and mortality for women and their offspring. Lifestyle interventions in pregnancy in women at risk of metabolic dysfunction have demonstrated short-term improvements such as reduced gestational weight gain and lowered risk of gestational diabetes. It is not known whether these interventions lead to sustained improvements in the metabolic health of the mother and baby. Pharmacological interventions have also shown benefits for the mother and baby in pregnancy, including improvements in glycaemic control, reduction in gestational weight gain and reduction in large for gestational age infants; however, there remains uncertainty over long-term outcomes for mother and child. Existing studies on interventions targeting metabolic health are limited to selected populations in the preconception and postpartum periods and lack follow-up beyond delivery of the intervention. The COVID-19 pandemic has refocused our attention on the effects of maternal metabolic ill-health that play a role in contributing to premature morbidity and mortality. There is an urgent need for strategies to accurately identify the growing number of women and offspring at risk of long-term adverse metabolic health. Strategies which focus on early identification and risk stratification using individualised risk scores in the pre and inter-conception periods must take priority if we are to target and improve the metabolic health of women and their offspring who are at highest risk

Common Fixed Point Theorems for Occasionally Weakly Compatible Mappings in Neutrosophic Cone Metric Spaces

The idea of Neutrosophic Cone Metric Space is introduced in this study. In order to illustrate fixed point, the idea of occassionally weakly compatible is also used