Project Initiated Citizen Forums at Grassroots in Bangladesh: Lessons Learned

Bangladesh is one of the densely populated countries which recently graduated to lower-middle income country in the world A number of donor-funded nongovernment organizations are working at grassroots for socioeconomic development since long This article aims to diffuse major learning of project-led civic groups at grassroots level It describes about engagement between state guardians and grassroots civil society in Bangladesh A mixed method applying both qualitative and quantitative methodologies was adopted to conduct fieldwork A total of 130 respondents from civil society groups were surveyed for data collection This paper finds that by project interventions citizens of remote coastal areas involved Members of Parliament MPs ministry media and key actors through research interactive policy dialogue and networking They have interest and significant knowledge about lives livelihoods and promoting public policy However organizational sustainability of such civil society groups is fragile in nature due to short duration and stereotype guidance from project This paper concludes that project initiated civil society literally failed to achieve its main advocacy goal that is to promote agreed coastal policy though it improves visionary zeal and capacity among citizens Short duration of project and political unrest are major hindering factors for institutional sustainability of grassroots civil societ

Migration to Big Cities from Coastal Villages of Bangladesh: An Empirical Analysis

This paper provides core understanding about phenomenon of migration to big cities from coastal villages of Bangladesh It describes major push-pull factors how migration contributes to reduce or increase vulnerabilities and impacts of migration The paper also depicts lives and livelihoods scenario of five study villages Livelihood sources of coastal communities particularly agriculture and fisheries are climate sensitive This micro level study examines how coastal people perceive climate change on their various activities cross-seeking it with scientific shape and their responses to climate change Findings reveal that many migrants are enforced to move in response to changes in conditions or in their perception of conditions at the places of origi

Rural-Urban Female Migration in Bangladesh: Need for Information Support and Institutional Responses

This paper portrays lives and livelihoods scenario of female associated with ruralurban migration in Bangladesh The techniques deplored are the interview and Focus Group Discussion FGD methods in collecting data Internal migration of female has been increased with complexity This micro level study finds that possible female migrants are enticed in many cases with promises of a better life and dream in cities due to lack of information They are deprived from rights and entitlements whatever engaged in formal or informal employment But evidence pointing that voice of female workers is comparatively loud where protection framework exists This paper urges to take collaborative initiative by stakeholders for developing and disseminating standardized information Information will help female migrants to be informed and decision making In concluding this paper it is recommended that the Government of Bangladesh GoB should develop a comprehensive national policy immediately on rural-urban migration and gradually include informal employment under protection framewor

COHERENT/INCOHERENT MAGNETIZATION DYNAMICS OF NANOMAGNETIC DEVICES FOR ULTRA-LOW ENERGY COMPUTING

Nanomagnetic computing devices are inherently nonvolatile and show unique transfer characteristics while their switching energy requirements are on par, if not better than state of the art CMOS based devices. These characteristics make them very attractive for both Boolean and non-Boolean computing applications. Among different strategies employed to switch nanomagnetic computing devices e.g. magnetic field, spin transfer torque, spin orbit torque etc., strain induced switching has been shown to be among the most energy efficient. Strain switched nanomagnetic devices are also amenable for non-Boolean computing applications. Such strain mediated magnetization switching, termed here as “Straintronics”, is implemented by switching the magnetization of the magnetic layer of a magnetostrictive-piezoelectric nanoscale heterostructure by applying an electric field in the underlying piezoelectric layer. The modes of “straintronic” switching: coherent vs. incoherent switching of spins can affect device performance such as speed, energy dissipation and switching error in such devices. There was relatively little research performed on understanding the switching mechanism (coherent vs. incoherent) in xiv straintronic devices and their adaptation for non-Boolean computing, both of which have been studied in this thesis. Detailed studies of the effects of nanomagnet geometry and size on the coherence of the switching process and ultimately device performance of such strain switched nanomagnetic devices have been performed. These studies also contributed in optimizing designs for low energy, low dynamic error operation of straintronic logic devices and identified avenues for further research. A Novel non-Boolean “straintronic” computing device (Ternary Content Addressable Memory, abbreviated as TCAM) has been proposed and evaluated through numerical simulations. This device showed significant improvement over existing CMOS device based TCAM implementation in terms of scaling, energy-delay product, operational simplicity etc. The experimental part of this thesis answered a very fundamental question in strain induced magnetization rotation. Specifically, this experiment studied the variation in magnetization orientation for strain induced magnetization rotation along the thickness of a magnetostrictive thin film using polarized neutron reflectometry and demonstrated non-uniform magnetization rotation along the thickness of the sample. Additional experimental work was performed to lay the groundwork for ultra-low voltage straintronic switching demonstration. Preliminary sample fabrication and characterization that can potentially lead to low voltage (~10-100 mV) operation and local clocking of such devices has been performed

An Unusual Case of a Tonsillolith

Tonsilloliths are rare calcified concretions that develop in tonsillar crypts within the substance of the tonsil or around it. Large tonsilloliths can mimic many conditions including abscesses or neoplasms. Given the wide range of differentials, it is difficult to diagnose tonsilloliths unless there is a considered emphasis on thorough history taking, careful inspection and a detailed characterisation of the lesion through digital palpation. This may be further supplemented with investigations such as plain radiography and computer tomography. Here, we illustrate a case with risk factors of oropharyngeal cancer and a history of fish bone impaction in the throat that was initially diagnosed as a “tonsillar foreign body” which turned out eventually to be a large tonsillolith