Magnetic Resonance Imaging Pulse Sequence Selection for Optimal Time and Image Quality Enhancement

This study is a comparison of three commonly used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pulse sequences to examine the image quality of the pulse sequences at a short acquisition time. Two tissue-equivalent gels were created. While one gel is constructed of polysaccharide and agarose, the other is made of ferrous benzoic xylenol orange (FBX). FBX gel is exposed to a 25 Grey dosage of 6MV photons from a linear accelerator. Repetition time (TR) was used to conduct experimental modifications in imaging parameters. The quantitative analysis comprises the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Fast Spin Echo (FSE) and Fast Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) are most comparable in SNR at 1.5 Tesla for various TR values. Conventional Spin Echo (CSE) has a CNR that is 143% and 93% higher than FSE and FLAIR, respectively. The time difference between CSE and FSE is 6 minutes and 34 seconds, whereas CSE and FLAIR is 6 minutes and 43 seconds. FSE and FLAIR provide superior image quality with quicker acquisition, suitable for patients sensitive to longer scan durations. Meanwhile, CSE stands out, delivering significantly enhanced contrast and SNR in T2-weighted images compared to other MRI pulses

Effect of Alpha-Type external input on annihilation of self-sustained activity in a two population neural field model

In the present work, we investigate the annihilation of persistent localized activity states (bumps) in a Wilson-Cowan type two-population neural field model in response to $\alpha$ -type spatio-temporal external input. These activity states serves as working memory in the prefrontal cortex. The impact of different parameters involved in the external input on annihilation of these persistent activity states is investigated in detail. The $\alpha$ -type temporal function in the external input is closer to natural phenomenon as observed in Roth et. al . ( Nature Neuroscience , vol. 19 (2016), 229–307). Two types of eraser mechanism are used in this work to annihilate the spatially symmetric solutions. Initially, if there is an activity in the network, inhibitory external input with no excitatory part and over excitation with no inhibition in the external input can kill the activity. Our results show that the annihilation of persistent activity states using $\alpha$ -type temporal function in the external input is more roubust and more efficient as compare to triangular one as used by Yousaf et al. ( Neural networks. , vol. 46 (2013), pp. 75–90). It is also found that the relative inhibition time constant plays a crucial role in annihilation of the activity. Runge-Kutta fourth order method has been employed for numerical simulations of this work.publishedVersio

Diagnosed hematological malignancies in Bangladesh - a retrospective analysis of over 5000 cases from 10 specialized hospitals

Background The global burden from cancer is rising, especially as low-income countries like Bangladesh observe rapid aging. So far, there are no comprehensive descriptions reporting diagnosed cancer group that include hematological malignancies in Bangladesh. Methods This was a multi-center hospital-based retrospective descriptive study of over 5000 confirmed hematological cancer cases in between January 2008 to December 2012. Morphological typing was carried out using the “French American British” classification system. Results A total of 5013 patients aged between 2 to 90 years had been diagnosed with malignant hematological disorders. A 69.2% were males (n = 3468) and 30.8% females (n = 1545), with a male to female ratio of 2.2:1. The overall median age at diagnosis was 42 years. Acute myeloid leukemia was most frequent (28.3%) with a median age of 35 years, followed by chronic myeloid leukemia with 18.2% (median age 40 years), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (16.9%; median age 48 years), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (14.1%; median age 27 years), multiple myeloma (10.5%; median age 55 years), myelodysplastic syndromes (4.5%; median age 57 years) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (3.9%; median age 36 years). The least common was chronic lymphocytic leukemia (3.7%; median age 60 years). Below the age of 20 years, acute lymphoblastic leukemia was predominant (37.3%), followed by acute myeloid leukemia (34%). Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma had mostly occurred among older patients, aged 50-over. Conclusions For the first time, our study presents the pattern and distribution of diagnosed hematological cancers in Bangladesh. It shows differences in population distributions as compared to other settings with possibly a lower presence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. There might be under-reporting of affected women. Further studies are necessary on the epidemiology, genetics and potential environmental risk factors within this rapidly aging country

Nutrients load in ponds both water and soil due to application of different levels of carbon and nitrogen with feeding

Application of different types of feeds, fertilisers or food based nutrients in ponds results in the accumulation of high levels nitrogen, phosphorous and organic carbon in water and bottom soil. Farmers can use pond water as an irrigation source while soil as a fertility source of agriculture. This study was conducted at Sahas village on Dumuria upazila at Khulna district in Bangladesh for 46 days (from April to May, 2017) with nursery reared tilapia fingerlings in aforementioned earthen ponds using two different composition of commercial fish feed (diet-1 & diet-2) varying crude protein content 24% and 35% with different C and N content respectably as main plot treatment and three different amount 0 kg, 3 kg, 6 kg of each diets as sub plot treatment with six replications in split plot experimental design. In this study of aquaculture farming from initial about 6-8% organic carbon, 23-35% total nitrogen, 22-45% total phosphorous stored in pond sediments while 10-20% of available potassium and 2-3% of C/N ratio depleted from it. About 16-20% available nitrogen, 7-10% available phosphorous stored in pond water while about 8-9% dissolved organic carbon, 3-18% available potassium and 2-5% C/N ratio were depleted from it. Nutrient enrichment of pond water and soil during aquaculture production is insufficient to meet crop nutrient demand but fertiliser recommendations for crops should be altered when pond water is used as an irrigation source and pond bottom sediments used as fertility soil for in situ cultivation or excavate it to other field for growing crops and cost may reduce

Haemoglobin E/Beta Thalassaemia- A Study in BSMMU

Background: Thalassaemias and haemoglobinopathies have been found sporadically in every ethnic group and geographic region, they occur with particularly high frequency from the shores of the Mediterranean and Africa through the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Burma and Southeast Asia. Objective: The study was designed to find out the incidence of HbE/beta thalassaemia in BSMMU. Method: A total of 700 patients suspected to have been suffering from haemolytic anaemia were included in the study. Patients having evidence of haemolysis in peripheral blood film were selected for reticulocyte count and haemoglobin electrophoresis in cellulose acetate membrane at pH 8.6. Result: The study group of 700 patients underwent Hb-electrophoresis of which only 52 (7.4%) cases were diagnosed as HbE/beta thalassaemia. Out of 52 cases, 34 (65.4%) patients were found symptomatic and the remaining 18 (34.6%) patients were asymptomatic. Out of 34 symptomatic cases of HbE/beta thalassaemia, only 14 cases needed blood transfusion. Among the 14 patients, only 8 patients needed more than 10 units of transfusion and 6 patients needed frequent transfusion that is two units of blood in every month. Conclusion: It is clearly evident from the present and other studied so far carried out in this Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia that hereditary haemolytic anaemia due to globin chain defects are quite common in this region, especially in Bangladesh and are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality. Key words: Thalassaemia; Haemoglobinopathies; HbE/beta thalassemia. DOI: 10.3329/bsmmuj.v2i2.4762 BSMMU J 2009; 2(2): 78-8

Mitigation of water scarcity with sustained growth of Rice by plant growth promoting bacteria

Climate change augments the risk to food security by inducing drought stress and a drastic decline in global rice production. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have been known to improve plant growth under drought stress. Here in the present study, we isolated, identified, and well-characterized eight drought-tolerant bacteria from the rice rhizosphere that are tolerant to 20% PEG-8000. These strains exhibited multiple plant growth-promoting traits, i.e., 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity, exopolysaccharide production, phosphate (P)-solubilizing activity (51–356 µg ml-1), indole-3 acetic acid (IAA) production (14.3–46.2 µg ml-1), and production of organic acids (72–178 µg ml-1). Inoculation of bacterial consortium (Bacillus subtilis NM-2, Brucella haematophilum NM-4, and Bacillus cereus NM-6) significantly improved seedling growth and vigor index (1009.2-1100) as compared to non-inoculated stressed plants (630-957). Through rhizoscanning, efficiency of the consortium was validated by improved root parameters such as root length (17%), diameter, and surface area (18%) of all tested genotypes as compared with respective non-inoculated stressed treatments. Furthermore, the response of consortium inoculation on three rice genotypes was positively correlated with improved plant growth and drought stress ameliorating traits by the accumulation of osmoprotectant, i.e., proline (85.8%–122%), relative water content (51%), membrane stability index (64%), and production of antioxidant enzymes to reduce oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species. A decrease in temperature and improved chlorophyll content of inoculated plants were found using infrared thermal imaging and soil plant analyzer development (SPAD), respectively. The key supporting role of inoculation toward stress responses was validated using robust techniques like infrared thermal imaging and an infrared gas analyzer. Furthermore, principal component analysis depicts the contribution of inoculation on stress responses and yield of tested rice genotypes under water stress. The integration of drought-tolerant rice genotype (NIBGE-DT02) and potential bacterial strains, i.e., NM-2, NM-4, and NM-6, can serve as an effective bioinoculant to cope with water scarcity under current alarming issues related to food security in fluctuating climate

HEROIN DEPENDENCE;

Objective: To determine the frequency and level of family support in Heroin Dependent patients presenting with 1st treatment and also the patients presenting with relapses. Study design: A descriptive study. Place &amp; duration of study: The study was conducted in the Department of Psychiatry &amp; Behavioral Sciences, Nishtar Hospital, Multan from September, 2013 to December, 2013. Subjects &amp; methods: The sample consisted of 50 consecutive inpatients presenting with Heroin Dependence. They were interviewed and Family support Scale (FSS) was administered to know the level of support in heroin dependent patients. Results: Results showed that 20% patients relapsed 3 times while 38% had more than three times relapses among whome 30% patients have family support, but 70% have very low level and family support decreased with increasing number of replace. Conclusions: We concluded that higher level of family support was during in the 1st treatment of Heroin Dependence and family support decreased as the number of relapses increased.</jats:p