Mobile Internet Service Preferences of Young Customers: Evidence from Bangladesh

Purpose: With the global wireless communication growth, the launching of commercial fourth-generation (4G) services in Bangladesh, including high transmission speed, the number of mobile internet subscribers has grown considerably during the last five years. During the same time, business models have become increasingly complex in the cellular industry because internet subscribers perceive value differently. This situation originates challenges among the mobile service operators in Bangladesh to create internet subscribers and retain the existing ones, especially the young mobile data users with more switching trends. Therefore, the objective of the study is to identify the determining factors that influence young customers to choose mobile internet services. Methods: This study is based on primary data collected from 440 young mobile internet users below 30 years old in Bangladesh. The study investigated ten factors of customer preferences for mobile internet, comparing male and female customers using the statistical tools: mean, standard deviation, and two-tailed t-test. Results: The study results indicate significant differences between female and male customers in mobile internet preference factors, including maximum coverage area, network quality and speed, security and privacy, and customer care. The female customers choose internet packages for security and privacy and a variety of packages, while the male customers choose mobile internet for maximum area of coverage and company image. Implications: The study findings have critical managerial implications for mobile internet providers to tailor their network and services to create new customers and gain customer retention resulting in significant growth and substantial earnings

Transmission and pathology of Streptococcus inane in monosex Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in aquaculture of Bangladesh

Streptococcus iniae is a major fish pathogen, recently emergent outbreaks were recorded in commercially cultured monosex Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) result in significant losses termed “streptococcosis”-causes unusual appearances with multi-focal pin-point haemorrhages, abscesses, necrosis and ascites in skin, fin, muscle, liver, spleen, kidney, blood, interstitial fluid specially in central nervous system and brain. This disease was more prevalent (>26%) at summer when the water temperature was approximately >25oC, percentage of mortality was higher >41% during the overcrowding and improper water chemistry. Raised levels of glucose and ammonium in blood serum causes reduced number of free blood cells released into the haemolymph to stomach and gut, result in refrain from eating in diseased tilapia. Stocking density (200 fish/decimal; class IV) had significant effect (P<0.01) on the total production (5,000 to 5,500 kg/ha). S. iniae in the circulating blood cells, extra-tubular haemal spaces containing blood vessels, fixed phagocytes in the hepatopancreas (gastrointestinal tract), bacteria-like particles in the brain tissue, vacuum and necrosis in hepatocytes revealed with histopathology. In vitro study revealed that cohabitation of dead or infected fish with healthy fish resulted infection (horizontal transmission mechanism) to the healthy fish

Implementation of graphic health warnings in Bangladesh - current status and challenges

Background Graphic Health Warning (GHW) in 50% of all tobacco packets/packages has been implemented from 19 March 2016 following the tobacco control (TC) law that amendment in 2013 and rules notified in 2015. But, there are many small and large tobacco industries bypass and ignore the TC law in different ways. The study was conducted to identify and show the current GHW implementation and challenges in Bangladesh and the sample collection period of the study was January 2017 to April 2017. Methods Out of 64, survey was conducted in 25 Districts and both qualitative and quantitative techniques, semi structured questionnaire and observational methods used to conduct the study. GHWs in all types of tobacco products were observed. 3 retail shops and 3 wholesale shops selected from each district. A research team was developed and organized a workshop regarding tobacco control law and GHW implementation for effectiveness and quality of the study and Excel software was used to analyze the data. Results Total 5234 tobacco products was investigated, 1757 smoking tobacco (1497 Cigarette packets and 260 Bidi packets) and 3477 smokeless tobacco (3263 different packs of Jarda and 214 Gul). Study found that, 34% Bidi, 25% Jarda and 15% Gul in market without GHW. 64% bidi, 75% Jarda, 85% Gul provide GHWs, but among these, 50% bidi, 45% jarda and 30% gul doesn't follow law. It shows that, excluding cigarettes packets, bidi and smokeless tobacco vastly ignore about GHWs section of law. Absence of manufacturing date and different size/forms of smokeless tobacco and bidi packets, it is very difficult to measure GHWs implementation on all tobacco products. Conclusions Its necessary to ensure uniform packets for smokeless tobacco and bidi with date of manufacture and monitoring for effective implementation of GHW provisions in Bangladesh

Bioinformatics and System Biology Techniques to Determine Biomolecular Signatures and Pathways of Prion Disorder

Prion disorder (PD) is caused by misfolding and the formation of clumps of proteins in the brain, notably Prion proteins resulting in a steady decrease in brain function. Early detection of PD is difficult due to its unpredictable nature, and diagnosis is limited regarding specificity and sensitivity. Considering the uncertainties, the current study used network-based integrative system biology approaches to reveal promising molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PD. In this study, brain transcriptomics gene expression microarray datasets (GSE160208 and GSE124571) of human PD were evaluated and 35 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. By employing network-based protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis on these DEGs, 10 central hub proteins, including SPP1, FKBP5, HPRT1, CDKN1A, BAG3, HSPB1, SYK, TNFRSF1A, PTPN6, and CD44, were identified. Employing bioinformatics approaches, a variety of transcription factors (EGR1, SSRP1, POLR2A, TARDP, and NR2F1) and miRNAs (hsa-mir-8485, hsa-mir-148b-3p, hsa-mir-4295, hsa-mir-26b-5p, and hsa-mir-16-5p) were predicted. EGR1 was found as the most imperative transcription factor (TF), and hsa-mir-16-5p and hsa-mir-148b-3p were found as the most crucial miRNAs targeted in PD. Finally, resveratrol and hypochlorous acid were predicted as possible therapeutic drugs for PD. This study could be helpful in better understanding of molecular systems and prospective pharmacological targets for developing effective PD treatments

Impact of Climate Change on Cotton Production in Bangladesh

Bangladesh produces only 5% of the cotton she needs to sustain her readymade garments industries. The country has very limited agricultural land and cotton competes with other crops for this scarce land resource. On top of that, Bangladesh is regarded as a country where agriculture is highly vulnerable to the variabilities of weather patterns that result from climate change. Against this backdrop, to better understand the potential for the sustainable expansion of cotton production in Bangladesh, we examine cotton’s agricultural value chain and projected climate risks associated with different phases of the chain. We identified associated stakeholders at different phases of cotton production, engaged with them to understand climatic and non-climatic threats and developed an integrated set of recommendations for climate-risk management through improving the connection of producers to markets, increasing economic returns to small farmers, and improving efficiency along the value chain. We discussed our estimated climate projections with stakeholders to understand the challenges at different stages of production and marketing, and together explored and identified probable solutions. This research offers a new and evolving approach to assess climate change impact on agriculture utilizing a holistic approach, which could be adopted for other crops

Assess compliance to existing Tobacco Control Law among task force (TF) committee members across 10 districts in Bangladesh

Background Bangladesh is the first signatory countries of WHO FCTC. Bangladesh signed on 16 June 2003 and ratified on 14 June 2004. The government of Bangladesh has taken several initiatives to reduce tobacco use. Bangladesh government has enacted tobacco control law in 2005 and amended in 2013 along with notification of the revised rules in 2015. Methods Cross sectional study design, quantitative and qualitative approaches, purposive sampling method and semi-structured questionnaire and oral interview used to conduct the survey. The objectives of the study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of Task Force (TF) regarding Tobacco Control (TC) Law. SPSS 21, Microsoft Excel used to analysis the data. Results 85 % staff know about TC law among the visited office and still now people smoke into the office area in 25 % offices. But 83 % office display No Smoking Signage. In terms of Task Force (TF) committee meeting, 67% TF members said that district TF meeting hold regularly. In terms of enforcement of tobacco control law, 85% respondents argue that mobile court conduct regularly but 57% said that they have lack of logistic support for conducting mobile court. Very interesting is that 59% TF members do not know about FCTC article 5.3, which is known as safeguard for tobacco control. Conclusions It can be said that a noticeable change have been seen on tobacco control issues. But tobacco companies are still trying to increase their sales among the young as potential customer by different illegal promotional campaign. So that awareness building programs should be conducted, logistic support should be delivered and social pressure should be created as people can be aware of their strategy and can able to protect it. So, government should take initiative immediately to implement the graphic health warning on all tobacco products to protect people as well as society

Impact of Climate Change on Cotton Production in Bangladesh

Bangladesh produces only 5% of the cotton she needs to sustain her readymade garments industries. The country has very limited agricultural land and cotton competes with other crops for this scarce land resource. On top of that, Bangladesh is regarded as a country where agriculture is highly vulnerable to the variabilities of weather patterns that result from climate change. Against this backdrop, to better understand the potential for the sustainable expansion of cotton production in Bangladesh, we examine cotton’s agricultural value chain and projected climate risks associated with different phases of the chain. We identified associated stakeholders at different phases of cotton production, engaged with them to understand climatic and non-climatic threats and developed an integrated set of recommendations for climate-risk management through improving the connection of producers to markets, increasing economic returns to small farmers, and improving efficiency along the value chain. We discussed our estimated climate projections with stakeholders to understand the challenges at different stages of production and marketing, and together explored and identified probable solutions. This research offers a new and evolving approach to assess climate change impact on agriculture utilizing a holistic approach, which could be adopted for other crops

A 1½ year old girl with excessive bleeding following accidental trauma to the upper labial frenum during playing

This article has no abstract. The first 100 words appear below: A 1½ year old girl of a consanguineous parents was brought to the emergency and casualty department of a secondary care military hospital in Chattogram Cantonment (South-East part of Bangladesh), Chattogram, Bangladesh at 0100 hours on 19th January 2018 by her parents with the complaints of excessive bleeding following accidental trauma to the upper labial frenum during playing for the last six hours. The duty medical officer attended the patient and took detail history. The doctor came to know that the baby got accidental trauma to the upper labial frenum during playing at 2130 hours on 18th January 2018 followed by excessive bleeding from the injury site