Agro-Morphological, Physico-Chemical and Molecular Characterization of Rice Germplasm with Similar Names of Bangladesh

AbstractThirty-one duplicate and similar named rice germplasms of Bangladesh were studied to assess the genetic variation for the agro-morphological and physico-chemical traits and simple sequence repeat banding patterns during 2009–2012 at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute. The range of variations within the cultivar groups showed higher degree. The principal component analysis showed that the first five components with vector values > 1 contributed 82.90% of the total variations. The cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into four clusters, where no duplicate germplasm was found. The highest number (11) of genotypes was constellated in cluster I and the lowest (3) in cluster II. The intra- and inter-cluster distances were the maximum in cluster I (0.93) and between clusters I and IV (24.61), respectively, and the minimum in cluster IV (0.62) and between clusters I and III (5.07), respectively. The cluster mean revealed that the crosses between the genotypes of cluster I with those of clusters II and IV would exhibit high heterosis for maximum good characters. A total of 350 alleles varied from 3 (RM277) to 14 (RM21) with an average of 7.8 per locus were detected at 45 microsatellite loci across the 31 rice accessions. The gene diversity ranged from 0.48 to 0.90 with an average of 0.77, and the polymorphism information content values from 0.44 (RM133) to 0.89 (RM206) with an average of 0.74. RM206, RM21, RM55, RM258 and RM433 were considered as the best markers on the basis of their higher polymorphism information content values. The dendrogram from unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average clustering also classified the genotypes into four groups, where group IV comprised of 20 genotypes and group III of one genotype, but no duplicate was found. Finally, similar and duplicate named rice germplasms need to be conserved in gene bank as are distinct from each other

Yield loss assessment of chickpea caused by botrytis gray mold through fungicide (Bavistin) spray

An experiment was conducted to assess the yield loss of chickpea caused by Botrytis gray mold (BGM) through fungicide spray at Pulses Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Ishurdi, Pabna, Bangladesh. Sixteen entries were evaluated following RCB design with three replications. Out of 16 tested germplasms, eight germplasms (92040*52, FLIP97-530 CLIMS, 94-012*98V4006, FLIP98-106C, Gully, FLIP94-509C, 97020-1489 and S95425) showed resistant reaction, while eight and one entries showed susceptible and highly susceptible, respectably, in fungicide sprayed plot. The highest yield increase over BGM inoculated plot were observed in BARWON*98CIH4007 (180.49%) and 97020-1489 (157.96%). The lowest yield increase over BGM inoculated plot were recorded in HEERA*98CZH4010 (6.39%) and 94-012*98V4006 (8.93%) genotypes

Mortality causes in goldsmiths of Bangladesh: Findings from verbal autopsy

Background: Information on the mortality causes of goldsmiths in Bangladesh is limited. This study aimed to find out the mortality causes in a selected group of goldsmiths. Methods: A World Health Organization recommended questionnaire was adapted to conduct verbal autopsy of 20 deceased goldsmiths. Death-related information was gathered from the family members present during deceased’s illness preceding death. The mortality causes were determined by the interview outcomes and medical records-review. Results: The mean age of the goldsmiths at death was 59.2± 9.3 years. Among then, 70.0% were smokers and 50.0% were alcohol consumers. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were the most common immediate and underlying cause of death (60.0% and 45.0%, respectively). Conclusion: The life expectancy of goldsmiths was much lower than the average life expectancy of Bangladeshi population, where CVD was the primary cause of death. Smoking and alcohol consumption were prevalent among them. Awareness about healthy lifestyles should be prioritized for highly CVD prevention among the goldsmiths.  Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal 2023;16(2): 87-9

Types and distribution of cancer patients attending in a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh

Bangladesh, similar to other countries is experiencing an increased burden of cancer. Absence of a national cancer registry has created a gap in the information regarding the presentation of cancer statistics of the country. The objective of this study was to assess the types and distribution of the cancer patients attending a tertiary academic medical center hospital in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted among all the confirmed cancer patients attending the in-patient and out-patient, and daycare facilities in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in October, 2019. A validated questionnaire, recommended by International Agency for the Cancer Registry was used to collect data. Written informed consent was obtained from every respondent. This study had received its ethical clearance from Institutional Review Board of BSMMU. Among the 1656 respondents, 78.8% were adult and 25.2% were from paediatric age groups. Leading cancer for adult males were lung cancer (9.6%), leukaemia (9.4%) and lymphoma (9.0%); and breast cancer (28.1%), thyroid cancer (16.1%), and cervical cancer (12.2%) for females. Leukaemia was the most frequent cancer in the paediatric group for both males (71.5%) and females (66.5%). Establishing a hospital-based cancer registry with high quality data in an academic medical center setting is feasible and can set the stage for establishing nationwide hospital-based as well as establishing a popula- tion-based cancer registry in Bangladesh, which is necessary to identify and tackle the rising burden of cancer in this country. BSMMU J 2022; 15(1): 43-4

Community-based Water Quality Monitoring Projects in Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling Regions in Centre, Clearfield, and Clinton Counties, PA

In the wake of the Marcellus Shale gas drilling surge in central Pennsylvania, Lock Haven University’s Water and Environmental lab forged partnerships with several community organizations to monitor surface water sediment quality in the vicinity Marcellus activity. These organizations include the Clearfield and Centre County chapters of the Pennsylvania Senior Environmental Corps, Centre County Conservation District, Beech Creek Watershed Association, and the South Renovo Borough Water Supply System. With the cooperation of our partners, several sub-watersheds of the West Branch Susquehanna River, including the Hall Run, Beech Creek, and various other small watersheds in Clearfield County, have been selected for assessment. The field parameters included temperature, pH, DO, TDS, conductance, ORP, and stream flow. Additional lab analyses yielded cation and anion values, including total iron, aluminum, manganese, barium, copper, calcium, magnesium, zinc, arsenic, bromide, sulfate, nitrate, phosphate, and chloride. Based on the field and lab results, the following conclusions have been reached: 1. The water quality in the Hall Run watershed is pristine and meets drinking water standards for all tested parameters; 2. Although seasonal variations of several parameters were recorded in the Beech Creek watershed, none of the levels were of high enough values to warrant concern; 3. Not enough data has been collected in the small watersheds in Clearfield County to reach any firm conclusions about the possible seasonal and temporal variations in the measured parameters; and 4. Based on current data, no evidence of direct impact from Marcellus Shale gas-well drilling on surface water and sediment quality has been detected. In addition, these projects have provided invaluable hands-on experiences for LHU students, while assisting surrounding counties by partnering with several community-based volunteer programs that are active with environmental and ecological impacts of human activities on natural resources

AN EVALUATION OF TOTAL BUILDING PERFORMANCE FOR THE PUBLIC HOUSING OF HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD

Master'sMASTER OF SCIENC

Hydrologic analysis of a 100-year flood event in a small rural watershed in Clinton County, PA

The US EPA reports precipitation from extremely heavy storms has increased 70 percent in the Northeast since 1958 (2016). NASA warns that Northeast will experience more heavy downpours and changes in patterns of precipitation will pose growing challenges to many aspects of life (2017). As per the IPCC (2007), evidence indicates that the net damage costs of climate change are likely to be significant and to increase over time. The residents of Sugar Run sub-watershed (1.25 mi2) within the Beech Creek watershed in Clinton County, PA experienced a total of 6.5 inches of rain in two hours on June 27, 2013. This event resulted in a flash flood that caused $17 million damage to property, one casualty, and 32 miles of road damage in the area. The amount and the intensity of rainfall corresponded to a 100-year event for the region. However, the rain event was localized in nature and did not have much impact on nearby USGS gaging stations. Field data on personal property and infrastructure damage caused by the flood were documented during and after the flood. The extent and the nature of the flood were analyzed using several hydrologic theories to determine frequency of the rain event, velocity and discharge of the Sugar Run at bankfull stage and flood stage, peak discharge during the flood, time of concentration of surface run-off following the rain event, and the duration of storm flow. The velocity of the flow (0.8 ft sec -1) and discharge (\u3c1 ft3 sec -1) in Sugar Run during normal flow conditions were determined to compare with values calculated for the flood event. The data show that the calculated flow velocity at bankfull stage (6 ft sec-1) and the peak discharge during the flood (690-780 ft sec-1) were an order of magnitude higher as compared to those values during normal flow conditions. Based on hydrologic analysis of the data, it is concluded that the flood water must have been flowing at 0.6 ft sec-1, which corresponded to a peak discharge rate of 690 ft3 sec -1 over the floodplain (with a cross sectional area of 1180 ft2) in Sugar Run during the flood peak discharge. The calculated values are in agreement with eyewitness accounts. The hydrologic methods applied to verify the field evidence and reported observations about the flood damage proved to be valuable tools, which can be used to predict the extent of future floods caused by similar intense precipitation events in small watersheds

Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability in Ohl Reservoir Watershed Using a GIS-Based Modified Drastic Model

This study was designed to assess the potential for groundwater contamination in the watershed surrounding Ohl Reservoir, which is a source of public drinking water supply for the greater Lock Haven area in Clinton County, PA. This study area is vulnerable to groundwater contamination from various factors including agricultural practices and anthropogenic influences. The DRASTIC model has been in use since 1987 to determine potential vulnerability for groundwater contamination using seven hydrogeologic parameters that influence and control groundwater movement through soil and aquifer layers, namely the depth to the groundwater table (D), net recharge (R), aquifer media (A), soil media (S), topography (T), impact of the vadose zone (I), and hydraulic conductivity (C). All of these parameters were determined for the study area, and were converted into ArcGIS data layers that were compiled into two groundwater vulnerability index maps, one using standard procedure and the other using a modified net recharge values. All of these parameters were determined using standard weights, ranges, and ratings published in the literature. The standard vulnerability index map shows the agricultural land areas have the potential for higher groundwater contamination. The modified vulnerability index map showed relatively lower potential for groundwater contamination for 94.3% of the study area including the agricultural land; however, the reservoir and wetland areas show a higher susceptibility for groundwater contamination

Marketing Efficiency and Value Chain Analysis: The Case of Garlic Crop in Bangladesh

Garlic is a highly profitable crop and is largely used both in medicinal and culinary purposes. The study was undertaken to determine marketing system, marketing cost, marketing margin, marketing efficiencies and to examine the value chain of garlic aiming to determine the value addition in different steps of garlic marketing. A purposive and simple randomized sampling procedure was used in selecting primary data. Marketing margin, profit, efficiency ratio, value addition etc. were calculated by different relevant equations and formulas. Four major marketing channels were identified for domestic produced garlic marketing. Channel-3 was the most important supply chain through which 40% domestic produced garlic reaches to consumers. Marketing margin and profit were the highest in retailer than those of other intermediaries. Out of four marketing channel, Channel-2 was more efficient than those of other channels. Six actors like; farmer, local trader, trader, commission agent, wholesaler, retailer and consumer are identified who are involved in the garlic value chain activities. Retailer added highest amount of value per unit of garlic and that of the lowest in wholesaler. Eleven marketing problem were identified, among them price fluctuation, high transport cost and lack of loan facilities were the major problem. It is therefore, recommended that Government intervention is urgent necessary to stabilize the price of garlic, loan facilities should be provided to the intermediaries and transportation cost should be kept reasonable. &nbsp

Monitoring of Water Temperature and Determining Water Budget of Keller Reservoir in the McElhattan Creek Watershed

In the summer of 2016 the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) conducted a study on McElhattan Creek to gauge the health of the wild trout population within the watershed. The study identified a significant problem that the watershed faces in relation to the difference in water temperature upstream and downstream of Keller Reservoir (92 Million Gallons), which is situated alongside McElhattan Creek. This discrepancy in water temperature is affecting the wild trout population, with some showing Black Spot, a parasite found when fish are combating temperature stress. Following up on the PFBC study, the focus of this project was to keep an extended record of water temperature above and below Keller Reservoir for the entire length of the summer, when the temperature discrepancies were observed to be at their highest. A series of HOBO Water Temp Pro data loggers were deployed at four locations in the watershed to obtain a broader picture of what could be influencing the previously observed temperature fluctuations. Monthly reports were then generated and compiled into a comprehensive file to examine trends in water temperature within the watershed. There was an isolated period (7/21/2017) when the temperature differential at two locations in McElhattan Creek, which are located upstream and downstream of Keller Reservoir, respectively, exhibited the highest range, which appears to be influenced by air temperature. There was a second event (7/24/2017) that displayed the smallest range in temperature differential between the same two locations following a major rain event. This event seems to be influenced by a relatively higher amount of water being discharged from Ohl Reservoir (580 Million Gallons) into the upstream segment of McElhattan Creek. Our data indicate that the surface water in Ohl Reservoir is relatively warmer than the upstream segment of McElhattan Creek. This project also investigated water budget for Keller Reservoir to asses a full view of the hydrologic controls of the area. Flow measurements were conducted at several sites within the watershed on various dates to investigate any fluctuations in the amount of water contributed by different components of water budget. The most recent data collected revealed a slight surplus in the output of water budget, which could be attributed to groundwater flow, evaporation, or direct precipitation over Keller Reservoir