Impact of garment industries on road safety in metropolitan Dhaka

There are about 4,000 garment industries in Bangladesh, most of them are clustered in and around the capital city. Together they account for 75 percent of the country's export earnings and employ around 1.8 million people which is almost one half of the total industrial workforce of the country. Though it is the most important economy sector of Bangladesh, unplanned and haphazardly built garment factories are also inducing many social, housing and most importantly urban transportation problems which are a great cause of concern. This study investigates the impact of garment industries on transportation, in particular road safety issues of garment workers. Data is collected to identify the locational problems of garment factories, spatial distribution of worker residences, and their travel pattern as well as to assess their walking and road crossing problems. Finally, recommendations are put forward to tackle transport problems arising from these unplanned establishments of export oriented garments industries in Dhaka Metropolitan City

The Ubiquitous Technology Model: The Use among Students at Malaysian Technical University Networks (MTUN)

Laptops, smartphones and tablets which also known as a ubiquitous technology or U-Tech have been widely used by many students in the university. However, little is known about the factors influencing its usage as not many comprehensive studies have been done related to it. A review of related literature demonstrates that factors, namely the Technology Competency (TC), Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Behavioural Intention (BI), Facilitating Conditions (FC) and Social Status (SS) influence technology usage. The focus of this study was to confirm whether these factors contribute towards the U-tech usage among students in the Malaysian Technical Universities Network (MTUN). This study was based on a quantitative research in which the Structural Equation Modeling using AMOS was employed. The research instrument was in the form of a questionnaire. The reliability of the instrument ranged from 0.851 to 0.912. The results attained from the analysis produced a new theory towards U-tech usage. The significant paths found were TC influences U-Tech usage (β=0.35, p=0.000), PE influences u-tech usage (β=0.41, p=0.000) and FC influences U-tech usage (β=0.23, p=0.000). Meanwhile, the structural paths for EE (β=0.26, p=0.000) and SS (β=0.52, p=0.000) towards u-tech usage were mediated by BI. Thus, it can be concluded that, 63% of the variance in u-tech usage described by the five factors. This study suggested that to increase the use of U-tech, the students need to be given more training and more workshops. The university administration should play an active role in disseminating any news that is related to the usefulness of U-Tech

Food and feeding habit of chapila (Gudusia chapra)

Abundance of diatom (Bacillariophyceae) in the plankton population and the dietary role of it in chapila (Gudusia chapra) in pond were studied. A total of 25 genera of phytoplankton belonging to Bacillariophyceae (7), Chlorophyceae (11), Cyanophyceae (5) and Euglenophyceae (2) and 9 genera of zooplankton belonging to Crustacea (3) and Rotifera (6) were recorded from the water. Among the phytoplankton, highest abundance of Chlorophyceae was observed, and Bacillariophyceae, Cyanophyceae and Euglenophyceae ranked the second, third and fourth position in the planktonic population, respectively. Among the zooplankton, Rotifera was recorded as the most dominant group and Crustacea as the least one. From the gut content analysis, 4 groups of phytoplankton consisting of 33 genera of plankton were identified and recoded [sic] of which 25 belonging to phytoplankton and 8 belonging to zooplankton. This study reveals that the Chlorophyceae and Cyanophyceae were the most dominant food items of chapila. Bacillariophyceae (diatom) and Euglenophyceae were less important and Crustacea and Rotifera were the least important in the diet of Chapila. The present investigation showed that chapila appeared to be a plankton feeder with a preference for phytoplankton to zooplankton. Electivity analysis showed that the fish avoided zooplankton and strongly selected phytoplankton. In the gut contents of fish, Chlorophyceae was positively and Bacillariophyceae (diatom) was negatively selected throughout the experimental period, in the pond water

Economic Evaluation of the PV Micro Utilities Installed by Grameen Shakti for Rural Electrification in Bangladesh

Sharing expensive technology can serve many users, even poor users. Grameen Shakti has developed a special programnamed PV micro utility to make it easier for those who cannot afford SHSs individually. Under this program, GrameenShakti allows people to share the cost and the subsequent benefit of using a SHS. In this study, operation and financialmechanism, analysis of cost of systems, tariff system, simple payback period, NPV and IRR of the micro utility systemshave been analyzed to show the financial viability of PV MU from the PV MU owner’s perspective. Results suggest thatthese systems have simple payback period of around 4-6 years. The NPV of systems varied from 27,000 BDT to 144,000BDT. The levelized electricity cost of PV MU systems is 70 BDT (~0.86 $)/kWh in Bangladesh. The owner has to spendonly 7.50 BDT/day but can earn at least 30-40 BDT per day, and up to 130-200 BDT/day.Keywords - Rural Electrification, Solar PV, Grameen Shakti, Bangladesh, Economic Evaluation

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON RING, ROTOR AND AIR-JET SPUN YARN

Although ring spinning is the universal spinning system but main limitation of this system is its limited spindle speed which causes lower production rate. Now-a-days spinners are trying to finding out various alternative spinning systems among which only rotor and air-jet has established market value. So it is very important for spinners to find out a suitable one according to end use and others economic aspects. Ring, Rotor and Air-jet spinning systems provide yarn with different structures and properties. Each system has its advantages and limitations in terms of technical feasibility and economic viability. We have produced 20's Ne, 100% cotton yarn from the above systems and their properties are tested by UT5 and lea strength tester. The main object of the project is to study the yarn properties (Um%, CVm%, Imperfection, Hairiness etc) of ring, rotor and air-jet spun yarn and compare among them. We observed how yarn properties are changed with the change of process. We analyzed the various yarn properties by the graphical representation

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON RING, ROTOR AND AIR-JET SPUN YARN

Although ring spinning is the universal spinning system but main limitation of this system is its limited spindle speed which causes lower production rate. Now-a-days spinners are trying to finding out various alternative spinning systems among which only rotor and air-jet has established market value. So it is very important for spinners to find out a suitable one according to end use and others economic aspects. Ring, Rotor and Air-jet spinning systems provide yarn with different structures and properties. Each system has its advantages and limitations in terms of technical feasibility and economic viability. We have produced 20's Ne, 100% cotton yarn from the above systems and their properties are tested by UT5 and lea strength tester. The main object of the project is to study the yarn properties (Um%, CVm%, Imperfection, Hairiness etc) of ring, rotor and air-jet spun yarn and compare among them. We observed how yarn properties are changed with the change of process. We analyzed the various yarn properties by the graphical representation

Effect of DLC Coating on Tribological Behavior of Cylinder Liner-piston Ring Material Combination When Lubricated with Jatropha Oil

AbstractThe expansion of modern engines would have been unfeasible without advanced lubricant chemistry and proper lubricant formulation. Introduction of diamond like carbon (DLC) coatings opens further possibilities in improving performance of engine and transmission components, which cannot longer be achieved only by lubricant design.DLC coatings show extremely good promise for a number of applications in automotive components as they exhibit excellent tribological properties. In this paper, the tribological performance of hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C: H)DLC coating with Jatropha oil was evaluated using a four ball Tribometer also with commercial synthetic lubrication oil (SAE 40) used as base lubricant. Experimental results demonstrated that the hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C: H)DLC coating exhibited better performance with Jatropha oil in terms of wear and friction under similar operating conditions compared to the uncoated stainless. Thus, usage of hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C: H)DLC coating with Jatropha oil in the long run may have a positive impact on engine life

Effect Of Sugar Palm Nanofibrillated Cellulose Concentrations On Morphological, Mechanical And Physical Properties Of Biodegradable Films Based On Agro-Waste Sugar Palm (Arenga Pinnata (Wurmb.) Merr) Starch

Sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) fibres and starches are considered as agro-industrial residue in the agricultural industry. This paper aims to investigate the effect of different concentrations (0–1.0 wt%) of sugar palm nanofibrillated cellulose (SPNFCs) reinforced sugar palm starch (SPS) on morphological, mechanical and physical properties of the bionanocomposites film. The SPNFCs, having a diameter of 5.5 ± 0.99 nm and length of several micrometres, were prepared from sugar palm fibres via a high-pressure homogenisation process. FESEM investigation of casting solution displayed good miscibility between SPS and SPNFCs. The FTIR analysis revealed good compatibility between the SPS and SPNFCs, and there were existence of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between them. The SPS/sPNFCs with 1.0 wt% had undergone an increment in both the tensile strength and Young’s modulus when compared with the SPS film, from 4.80 MPa to 10.68 MPa and 53.97 MPa to 121.26 MPa, respectively. The enhancement in water barrier resistance was led by reinforcing SPNFCs into the matrix, which resulted in bionanocomposites. The properties of bionanocomposites will be enhanced for short-life applications, such as recyclable container and plastic packaging through the incorporation of SPNFCs within the SPS bionanocomposites

Incidence rates of narcolepsy diagnoses in Taiwan, Canada, and Europe: The use of statistical simulation to evaluate methods for the rapid assessment of potential safety issues on a population level in the SOMNIA study

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Vaccine safety signals require investigation, which may be done rapidly at the population level using ecological studies, before embarking on hypothesis-testing studies. Incidence rates were used to assess a signal of narcolepsy following AS03-adjuvanted monovalent pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) influenza vaccination among children and adolescents in Sweden and Finland in 2010. We explored the utility of ecological data to assess incidence of narcolepsy following exposure to pandemic H1N1 virus or vaccination in 10 sites that used different vaccines, adjuvants, and had varying vaccine coverage.METHODS: We calculated incidence rates of diagnosed narcolepsy for periods defined by influenza virus circulation and vaccination campaign dates, and used Poisson regression to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) comparing the periods during which wild-type virus circulated and after the start of vaccination campaigns vs. the period prior to pH1N1 virus circulation. We used electronic health care data from Sweden, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Canada (3 provinces), Taiwan, Netherlands, and Spain (2 regions) from 2003 to 2013. We investigated interactions between age group and adjuvant in European sites and conducted a simulation study to investigate how vaccine coverage, age, and the interval from onset to diagnosis may impact the ability to detect safety signals.RESULTS: Incidence rates of narcolepsy varied by age, continent, and period. Only in Taiwan and Sweden were significant time-period-by-age-group interactions observed. Associations were found for children in Taiwan (following pH1N1 virus circulation) and Sweden (following vaccination). Simulations showed that the individual-level relative risk of narcolepsy was underestimated using ecological methods comparing post- vs. pre-vaccination periods; this effect was attenuated with higher vaccine coverage and a shorter interval from disease onset to diagnosis.CONCLUSIONS: Ecological methods can be useful for vaccine safety assessment but the results are influenced by diagnostic delay and vaccine coverage. Because ecological methods assess risk at the population level, these methods should be treated as signal-generating methods and drawing conclusions regarding individual-level risk should be avoided

Narcolepsy and adjuvanted pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 vaccines – Multi-country assessment

Background: In 2010, a safety signal was detected for narcolepsy following vaccination with Pandemrix, an AS03-adjuvanted monovalent pandemic H1N1 influenza (pH1N1) vaccine. To further assess a possible association and inform policy on future use of adjuvants, we conducted a multi-country study of narcolepsy and adjuvanted pH1N1 vaccines. Methods: We used electronic health databases to conduct a dynamic retrospective cohort study to assess narcolepsy incidence rates (IR) before and during pH1N1 virus circulation, and after pH1N1 vaccination campaigns in Canada, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Using a case-control study design, we evaluated the risk of narcolepsy following AS03- and MF59-adjuvanted pH1N1 vaccines in Argentina, Canada, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, we also conducted a case-coverage study in children born between 2004 and 2009. Results: No changes in narcolepsy IRs were observed in any periods in single study sites except Sweden and Taiwan; in Taiwan incidence increased after wild-type pH1N1 virus circulation and in Sweden (a previously identified signaling country), incidence increased after the start of pH1N1 vaccination. No association was observed for Arepanrix-AS03 or Focetria-MF59 adjuvanted pH1N1 vaccines and narcolepsy in children or adults in the case-control study nor for children born between 2004 and 2009 in the Netherlands case-coverage study for Pandemrix-AS03. Conclusions: Other than elevated narcolepsy IRs in the period after vaccination campaigns in Sweden, we did not find an association between AS03- or MF59-adjuvanted pH1N1 vaccines and narcolepsy in children or adults in the sites studied, although power to evaluate the AS03-adjuvanted Pandemrix brand vaccine was limited in our study