Can Fe oxides stabilise organic carbon in soil?

Soil aggregates are known to play an important role in preserving soil organic carbon (SOC). Poorly crystalline Fe oxides are one of the main aggregating agents in tropical soils. The interaction between soil organic matter (OM) and Fe oxide surface leads to the formation of an organo-mineral complex which is one of the main mechanisms of SOC preservation. The effect of Fe oxide amendment on soil aggregate formation as well as the preservation of SOC in temperate soils is largely unknown. Therefore, the main objective of this research project is to investigate these effects through a number of laboratory studies. Soils were amended with different levels of Fe oxides (0%, 0.5, 1%, 2% and 4%). An initial adsorption study confirmed that Fe oxide amendment can adsorb dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and significantly reduce the concentration of DOC in five different soil types (P≤0.05). This result gave a justification for further plant growth experiment for 8 weeks. Soils for the plant growth experiment were amended with the same levels of Fe oxides, organic matter (OM) (0 t/ha, 1.5 t/ha, 3 t/ha, 6 t/ha and 12 t/ha), and a combination of these different levels of Fe oxides + OM. After 8 weeks, Fe oxide amendment caused an increase in soil macro-aggregates followed by a significant increase in SOC in macro-aggregate fractions ((P≤0.05). In addition, the masses of resistant soil organic carbon (rSOC) fractions and SOC concentration in rSOC fractions significantly increased due to Fe oxide amendment (P≤0.05). The effects of OM and Fe oxide+ OM were only significant on SOC concentration in macro-aggregates. These results showed that Fe oxide amendment can certainly be a useful tool to stabilise SOC through the formation of stable soil aggregates which could mitigate the impacts of global warming

Fractals

Volume 3, Issue 1, January 201

Long-Term Hydraulic Adjustment of Three Tropical Moist Forest Tree Species to Changing Climate

Xylem hydraulic adjustment to global climatic changes was reported from temperate, boreal, and Mediterranean tree species. Yet, the long-term hydraulic adjustment in tropical tree species has not been studied so far. Here we developed the first standard chronologies of three hydraulic trait variables for three South Asian moist forest tree species to analyze their long-term hydraulic responses to changing climate. Based on wood anatomical measurements, we calculated Hagen–Poiseuille hydraulically weighted vessel diameter (DH), potential specific hydraulic conductivity (KS), and vulnerability index (VX) and developed standard chronologies of these variables for Chukrasia tabularis, Toona ciliata, and Lagerstroemia speciosa which are different in their xylem structure, wood density, shade tolerance, growth rates, and habitat preferences. Bootstrap correlation analysis revealed that vapor pressure deficit (VPD) strongly positively influenced the xylem water transport capacity in C. tabularis, whereas T. ciliata was affected by both temperature and precipitation. The hydraulic conductivity of L. speciosa was mainly affected by temperature. Different adjustment strategies were observed among the species, probably due to the differences in life history strategies and xylem properties. No positive relationship of conductivity and radial growth was found, but a trade-off between hydraulic safety and efficiency was observed in all studied species

An Efficient and Speedy Activity Model for Information System Based Organizations

This paper presents an activity model that addresses the responsibilities among different C-level Officers in any IT-reliant systems in organizations. The activity model provides an integrated set of actions that extend and clarify the work system framework and related work system concepts, thereby helping in understanding, analyzing, and designing technical and sociotechnical systems. The activity model is an advance step toward an enhanced work system approach that is quickly accessible, understandable and clear visualization to business professionals, is more rigorous than most current applications of work system concepts, and can be linked more directly to precise, highly detailed analysis and design approaches for IT professionals. Specification of the activity model clarifies ambiguities in the work system framework and forms a clearer conceptual basis for tools and methods that could improve communication and collaboration between business and IT professionals through e-Media

The quest for better outcomes: a randomized controlled trial comparing letrozole versus clomiphene citrate in polycystic ovarian syndrome related infertility

Background: Infertility is a widespread concern, particularly among individuals with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Clomiphene citrate (CC) has been a primary treatment for PCOS-related infertility, despite suboptimal pregnancy rates. Letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, presents an alternative with potential advantages for improving pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to rigorously compare letrozole and CC in the context of PCOS-related infertility, focusing on Bangladeshi women, adopting incremental dosing protocols, and examining endpoints to contribute valuable insights. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary care center in Bangladesh from July 2021 to June 2023. Participants included women aged 18-35 with anovulatory infertility due to PCOS. They were randomized into two groups: letrozole and CC. Treatments were administered following incremental dosing protocols, and outcomes included endometrial thickness, ovulation rate, mono-follicular development, pregnancy rate, and time to pregnancy. Results: Out of 187 patients assessed for eligibility, 102 were enrolled, with 51 in each group. Demographics were comparable between groups. While endometrial thickness did not significantly differ between the groups, letrozole demonstrated a higher rate of mono-follicular development (72.55% versus 50.98%), a significantly higher pregnancy rate (47.06% versus 23.53%), and a shorter time to pregnancy (9.23 weeks versus 11.7 weeks) compared to CC. Conclusions: This study suggests that letrozole may be a preferred option for ovulation induction in PCOS patients due to its superior pregnancy rates and shorter time to pregnancy compared to CC. However, limitations such as a relatively small sample size and variations in dosages should be considered. Further research is needed to validate these findings and address the evolving needs of patients with PCOS-related infertility

Iron, Iodine and Selenium Effects on Quality, Shelf Life and Microbial Activity of Cherry Tomatoes

Tomatoes have high nutritional and economical value and its deterioration start after harvest. They need proper treatments to increase and maintain quality as well as shelf life. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of iron, iodine and selenium on quality, shelf life and microbial activity of cherry tomatoes. Iron (1 mg/L), iodine (1 mg/L) and selenium (1 mg/L) were supplied with nutrient solution for five weeks prior to harvest. Then, cherry tomatoes were stored at  5 °C to assess quality, shelf life and microbial activity. The highest Ca content (p < 0.05) revealed in selenium-treated cherry tomatoes. Lower respiration and ethylene production were showed in selenium-treated cherry tomatoes both harvest time and after storage compared with iron and iodine treatments. At harvest time and after storage, the respiration were 1.29 (p < 0.05) and 0.62 mL/kg/hr (p < 0.01), respectively in selenium-treated cherry tomatoes. Moreover at harvest time and after storage in selenium-treated cherry tomatoes, the ethylene production was 2.11 and 0.87 μL/kg/hr (p < 0.01), respectively. The lowest fresh weight loss, the longest shelf life (p < 0.01), the least fungal incidence rate and microbial activities were found in selenium-treated cherry tomatoes. The longest shelf life of selenium-treated cherry tomatoeswas 22 days. Selenium-treated cherry tomatoes’ firmness increased (16.82N) at harvest time (p < 0.05) and it was significantly retained (12.70N) after storage (p < 0.01). Color development and lycopene content were more suppressed by selenium treatment after storage than iron and iodine treatments. Titratable acidity, vitamin C and soluble solids increased in selenium-treated cherry tomatoes after storage. Based on results, selenium-treated cherry tomatoes have significant potential to increase and maintain quality and shelf life

Nurses’ knowledge regarding nursing care and management of hypertensive patients in a selected hospital in Dhaka city

Background: Heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, COPD and cancer are some of the major NCDs and account for more than three-fifths of a death in Bangladesh. This study was aimed to assess the level of nurses’ knowledge regarding nursing care and management of the hypertensive patients.Methods: This study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional study type and the data were collected using self-administered questionnaire. The respondents were informed about the purpose of the study to obtain their consent and they were given clear instructions on how to fill the questionnaires. All the data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.Results: In this study slightly above 60.0% of the participants were female and 73% of them were Muslims. More than half (53.0%) of the respondents had B.Sc. in nursing and 51.3% of them had <10 years of service experience. About 70.4% of the respondents had attended a training on hypertension and 92.2% of them knows about normal blood pressure measurement. About 92.2% of the participants knows the causes of hypertension and 82.6% of the respondents mentioned that hypertension management aims to prevent morbidity and mortality and only 39.1% of them knows the recommended diet for people with hypertension.Conclusions: The finding reported that the nurses' knowledge regarding the management of hypertensive patients and knowledge on hypertension were very good. Developing knowledge among the nurses in relation to hypertension is the key factor to plan for comprehensive nursing care for better prognosis of the patient

As You Are, So Shall You Move Your Head: A System-Level Analysis between Head Movements and Corresponding Traits and Emotions

Identifying physical traits and emotions based on system-sensed physical activities is a challenging problem in the realm of human-computer interaction. Our work contributes in this context by investigating an underlying connection between head movements and corresponding traits and emotions. To do so, we utilize a head movement measuring device called eSense, which gives acceleration and rotation of a head. Here, first, we conduct a thorough study over head movement data collected from 46 persons using eSense while inducing five different emotional states over them in isolation. Our analysis reveals several new head movement based findings, which in turn, leads us to a novel unified solution for identifying different human traits and emotions through exploiting machine learning techniques over head movement data. Our analysis confirms that the proposed solution can result in high accuracy over the collected data. Accordingly, we develop an integrated unified solution for real-time emotion and trait identification using head movement data leveraging outcomes of our analysis.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, NSysS 201

Assessment of knowledge and practice of menstrual hygiene among the female nursing students in a selected private nursing college in Dhaka City

Background: Adolescent females are often uninformed and inexperienced on most health-related issues including menstruation. The problems of menstrual hygiene are inadequately acknowledged and has not received any proper attention as well. This study was aimed to assess the level of knowledge and practice of menstrual hygiene among the female nursing students in Bangladesh.Methods: A total of 106 female nursing students were selected from Grameen Caledonian College of nursing using purposive sampling technique.  A descriptive cross-sectional type of study was used. Data were collected directly using self-administered semi-structured questionnaire developed and was analysed using SPSS version 22.0.Results: In this study more than six-tenths (63.2%) of the respondents were 20 years and below and most of them (74.5%) were unmarried.  About 60.4% of them were currently running diploma in nursing and the rest (38.6%) were B.Sc. nursing students. About 72.6% of the respondent’s mothers had above HSC level of education and most of them (61.3%) were from nuclear family.  Little above half (51.9%) of the respondents mentioned that menstruation is the uterine bleeding and the majority (67.0%) of the respondents were surprised during their first menstruation. Most of the respondents source of information about menstruation before menarche was sister (95.3%), followed by friend (92.5%), mother (67.9%) and the rest mentioned the teacher (62.3%). About 76.5% of the respondents mentioned that their mode of disposal of absorbents was dustbin and most of them (68.9%) used water and soap to clean their genital area after menstruation.Conclusions: The study was concluded that more than half of the respondents had moderate level of knowledge and practice regarding the menstrual hygiene. Most of the (67.0%) of the respondents were surprised during their first menstruation and close to eight-tenths (79.2%) mentioned they had a regular usual menstrual cycle. There is need for more awareness regarding the information on good menstrual hygiene practices

Weed suppressive ability of BRRI released popular monsoon rice varieties

Develoment of weed competitive crop cultivars is an attractive low-cost strategy of integrated weed management program that can reduce the heavy dependence of crop cultivation to chemical herbicides. Hence, to evaluate the weed competitiveness Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) released selected monsoon rice varieties, a field experiment was conducted during July to December 2018 at the Agronomy Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University. Thirty-three rice varieties were grown under season long weedy and weed-free conditions. Plots without rice plants were also maintained to investigate the natural growth of weed in absence of rice. The experiment was conducted following randomized complete block design with three replicates. The results showed that rice varieties varied widely in yielding ability and weed competitiveness. Among rice varieties, BRRI dhan31 allowed the minimum weed growth (32.5 g m-2) while BRRI dhan51 allowed the maximum weed growth (155.3 g m-2). Grain yield ranged between 3.6 t ha-1 (BRRI dhan49) and 7.5 t ha-1 (BR10) under weed-free condition and between 2.2 t ha-1 (BRRI dhan70) and 3.9 t ha-1 (BRRI dhan34) under weedy condition. Weed imposed relative yield loss ranged from 10.2 to 66.9% among the rice varieties. BRRI dhan34 allowed the least yield penalty (10.2%) while BRRI dhan70 had the maximum yield penalty (66.9%) due to competition with weeds. Although BR10 appear as the most productive variety (7.5 t ha-1) its weed imposed relative yield loss was higher (51.3%) than many other varieties with low yield potential. On the other hand, BRRI dhan34 appeared as the most weed competitive variety (only 10.2% relative yield loss) with productivity of 3.9 t ha-1. Considering the yield, BR10 was the best but for weed suppressive ability BRRI dhan34 performed well