Shifting from rice production to shrimp culture in coastal zones of Khulna: Determination of the determinants

This study aimed to investigate the determinants of shifting to shrimp culture from rice cultivation in coastal zones of Khulna district by using primary data collected from the four upazillas of Khulna, namely, Batiaghata, Dacope, Dumuria, and Paikgacha. Along with bivariate analysis, single-level binary logistic regression was carried out to identify the determinants of shifting. Through the bivariate analysis it had found that among all variables considered, some variables, precisely, amount of land holdings, access to credit, contact with GOs/NGOs, intrusion of saline water, perception of profitability of shrimp, and water logging had significant relation with shifting to shrimp culture. Similarly, the binary logistic regression had identified five significant determinants of shifting from rice cultivation to shrimp culture: occupation, land holding, access to credit, intrusion of saline water, and water logging

Social and cognitive factors influencing commercial chicken farmers’ antimicrobial usage in Bangladesh

Abstract Adapting the Social Cognitive Theory framework, we conducted a cross-sectional study on 137 commercial chicken farms in Bangladesh to investigate factors influencing the behaviour of farmers towards the application of antimicrobials to their birds. Almost all farmers used antimicrobials to treat poultry diseases, while 38.6% also were using them to promote healthy growth of chickens and 10.2% to increase egg production or improve meat quality. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), we identified that inappropriate usage of antimicrobials (behaviour) was strongly driven by farmers’ short-term goals to maintain the health of their chickens in a production cycle (β = 0.813, p = 0.029), rather than long-term concerns. Farmers’ perception about their ability to control antimicrobial administration based on their skills and opportunities (self-efficacy) marginally influenced the short-term goals of antimicrobial usage (β = 0.301, p = 0.073). The results of this study can be used to develop targeted education programs for farmers, to reduce the application of antimicrobials in their poultry flocks

Silicene Quantum Capacitance Dependent Frequency Readout to a Label-Free Detection of DNA Hybridization— A Simulation Analysis

The use of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) hybridization to detect disease-related gene expression is a valuable diagnostic tool. An ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) with a graphene layer has been utilized for detecting DNA hybridization. Silicene is a two-dimensional silicon allotrope with structural properties similar to graphene. Thus, it has recently experienced intensive scientific research interest due to its unique electrical, mechanical, and sensing characteristics. In this paper, we proposed an ISFET structure with silicene and electrolyte layers for the label-free detection of DNA hybridization. When DNA hybridization occurs, it changes the ion concentration in the surface layer of the silicene and the pH level of the electrolyte solution. The process also changes the quantum capacitance of the silicene layer and the electrical properties of the ISFET device. The quantum capacitance and the corresponding resonant frequency readout of the silicene and graphene are compared. The performance evaluation found that the changes in quantum capacitance, resonant frequency, and tuning ratio indicate that the sensitivity of silicene is much more effective than graphene