Effectiveness of extensive reading in Second Language learning : a study on the development of linguistic skills in reference to reading

This thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in English, 2015.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (page 77- 82).Over the past few decade extensive reading has been gaining support and recognition in second language learning pedagogy. There are numerous articles that show the benefits of extensive reading in English for both foreign and second language learners. Although extensive reading has gain recognition in many countries and is being practiced, in Bangladesh it is still mostly unknown. There are few studies regarding extensive reading have been done in Bangladesh but the educational institutions are still following the traditional method in classrooms. As a result, the learners get little opportunities to improve their English. This paper aims to show the benefits of extensive reading and how effective it can be in improving the learner’s second language proficiency. The paper will discuss what extensive reading is and how does it differ from intensive reading. Various studies will be discussed to show that extensive reading is not only effective in developing learner’s reading ability but also improves other skills. This paper mainly focuses on the improvement of reading ability and other related skills like- vocabulary, grammar, motivation. Both qualitative and quantitative methods have been used to conduct this research. This paper was concluded with some suggestion to implement extensive reading in Bangladeshi university and schools to help the learners improve their second language learning. It is suggested in the paper that a combination of initiatives such as raising awareness, teacher training and changing the existing format of teaching can promote the practice extensive reading among the learners.Shahina Akter ShellyB.A. in Englis

KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF MOTHER TOWARDS EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING

For the first six months of a baby’s life, it is recommended that he or she be fed only human milk. Breastfeeding protects a baby's immune system and ensures that he or she grows and develops normally. The goal of a recent research was to examine nursing moms’ knowledge and attitudes on exclusive breastfeeding. Dhaka, Mirpur-14, Marks Medical College & Hospital, where this research was done. Descriptive cross-sectional research was used in this study. A total of 115 nursing mothers who had just given birth were included in the study. In order to disseminate the questionnaire, a random sample method was used. SPSS Version-20 was used to analyze the data, and the results were presented in the form of a graph and a table. There were 100 percent females, 67 percent of whom were Muslim, and 100 percent of them were married. 49.6 percent of the respondents were class (HSC) qualified. Family income was 25060.87 Taka, with a standard deviation of 4672.215 Taka. Only 34(29.6 percent) of the lactating mothers began nursing within an hour of birth and 85.2 percent of the respondents gave the infant liquid breast milk during the first three days following delivery, according to the findings of the present research. During the prenatal period, 50.4 percent of respondents received counseling information from their families, the highest percentage in this research. Many participants in this study strongly agreed that breast milk should be fed to a newborn, 84.3 percent agreed that it protects the baby from illness, and 68.7 percent agreed that it should be the first feed given to a baby after birth. 70.4 percent said that breast milk alone can sustain the child for six months. This research shows that women have a strong understanding of the benefits of nursing exclusively. A large sample size is needed to describe the knowledge of the mother toward exclusive breastfeeding in the gynae ward patient department of Marks Medical College and hospital, Dhaka.Keywords: Breastfeeding, Mothers’ Knowledge, Patients, Babies, Gynecology

Expression of thaumatin, a new type of alternative sweetener in rice

  Sweet proteins are the natural alternative to the artificial sweeteners as well as flavor enhancers. Among other sweet protein, thaumatin protein was isolated from Thaumatococcus daniellii Benth plant fruit. In this study, pinII Ti plasmid vector was constructed with thaumatin gene, where thaumatin was placed under the control of the duel cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter into rice (Oryza sativa L. var. japonica cv. ‘Dongjinbyeo’) by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation to generate transgenic plants. Thirteen plant lines were regenerated and the transgenic rice lines were confirmed by different molecular analysis. The genomic PCR result revealed that all of the plant lines were transgenic. The single copy and intergenic plant lines were selected by Taqman PCR analysis and FST analysis, respectively. Expression of thaumatin gene in transgenic rice resulted in the accumulation of thaumatin protein in the leave. Thaumatin protein was also accumulated in leave of T1 generation. Sensory analysis result suggested that the thaumatin protein expressing transgenic lines exerted sweet tasting activity. These results demonstrated that thaumatin was expressed in transgenic rice plants

The effectiveness of intrapartum cardiotocography with fetal outcome-a hospital-based study

Background: The determination of the fetal condition during labour is important to minimize fetal mortality, morbidity and neurological sequelae of fetal hypoxia. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of intrapartum cardiotocography (CTG) in detecting fetal outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the department of obstetrics and gynecology in the centre for women and child health (CWCH), Ashulia, Dhaka from November 2020 to August 2022. The study was carried out with a total of 63 pregnant women (n=63) who had delivered their child either by lower uterine caesarian section (LUCS) or normal vaginal delivery (NVD) during the study period. Result: Among the participants, almost half participants (47.6%) were aged between 25-29 years. Intrapartum CTG was reactive in around half (54%) of the participants, while non-reactive in 46% of the participants. During the study period, intrapartum CTG was reactive in 34 patients. Of them, only 19 patients had an NVD, while 15 patients despite normal intrapartum CTG also underwent LUCS due to various reasons such as having meconium-stained liquor or slightly stained liquor, non-progressing labour or prolonged labour, premature rupture of the membrane (PROM), fear of NVD etc. During the study period, all twenty-nine patients having intrapartum non-reactive CTG underwent LUCS. During the study period, intrapartum CTG was non-reactive in 29 cases. However, after delivery, the baby’s APGAR score was ≥7 for the 20 neonates of those 29 non-reactive CTG cases. On the other hand, intrapartum CTG was reactive in 34 of the participants. Among them, 3 neonates were delivered through NVD. However, meconium-stained liquor was found and the baby’s APGAR score was <7, which required NICU admission. In total, thirteen neonates (13, 20.6%) had required admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Conclusions: CTG is one of the reliable methods of monitoring the fetus. Non-reactive CTG record with a high probability indicates the likelihood of the presence of perinatal asphyxia. Instant and adequate decisions regarding obstetric intervention and optimal procedures should be taken if fetal distress is suspected.

Ecofriendly Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Terrabacter humi sp. nov. and Their Antibacterial Application against Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens

It is essential to develop and discover alternative eco-friendly antibacterial agents due to the emergence of multi-drug-resistant microorganisms. In this study, we isolated and characterized a novel bacterium named Terrabacter humi MAHUQ-38T, utilized for the eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and the synthesized AgNPs were used to control multi-drug-resistant microorganisms. The novel strain was Gram stain positive, strictly aerobic, milky white colored, rod shaped and non-motile. The optimal growth temperature, pH and NaCl concentration were 30 °C, 6.5 and 0%, respectively. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain MAHUQ-38T belongs to the genus Terrabacter and is most closely related to several Terrabacter type strains (98.2%–98.8%). Terrabacter humi MAHUQ-38T had a genome of 5,156,829 bp long (19 contigs) with 4555 protein-coding genes, 48 tRNA and 5 rRNA genes. The culture supernatant of strain MAHUQ-38T was used for the eco-friendly and facile synthesis of AgNPs. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image showed the spherical shape of AgNPs with a size of 6 to 24 nm, and the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed the functional groups responsible for the synthesis of AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited strong anti-bacterial activity against multi-drug-resistant pathogens, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Minimal inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations against E. coli and P. aeruginosa were 6.25/50 and 12.5/50 μg/mL, respectively. The AgNPs altered the cell morphology and damaged the cell membrane of pathogens. This study encourages the use of Terrabacter humi for the ecofriendly synthesis of AgNPs to control multi-drug-resistant microorganisms

Biologically rapid synthesis of silver nanoparticles by Sphingobium sp. MAH-11T and their antibacterial activity and mechanisms investigation against drug-resistant pathogenic microbes

AbstractThe present study highlights the biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Sphingobium sp. MAH-11 and also their antibacterial mechanisms against drug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms. The nanoparticle synthesis method used in this study was reliable, facile, rapid, cost-effective and ecofriendly. The AgNPs exhibited the highest absorbance at 423 nm. The TEM image expressed spherical shape of AgNPs and the size of synthesized AgNPs was 7–22 nm. The selected area diffraction (SAED) pattern and XRD spectrum revealed the crystalline structure of AgNPs. The results of FTIR analysis disclosed the functional groups responsible for the reduction of silver ion to metal nanoparticles. The biosynthesized AgNPs showed strong anti-microbial activity against drug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms. Moreover, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used to explore the antibacterial mechanisms of biosynthesized AgNPs. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of E. coli and S. aureus were 6.25 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL, respectively and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of E. coli and S. aureus were 25 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL, respectively. Results exhibited that biosynthesized AgNPs caused morphological changes and injured the membrane integrity of strains E. coli and S. aureus. The AgNPs synthesized by Sphingobium sp. MAH-11 may serve as a potent antimicrobial agent for many therapeutic applications

Characterization and Genome Analysis of Arthrobacter bangladeshi sp. nov., Applied for the Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Efficacy against Drug-Resistant Human Pathogens

The present study describes the isolation and characterization of novel bacterial species Arthrobacter bangladeshi sp. nov., applied for the green synthesis of AgNPs, and investigates its antibacterial efficacy against drug-resistant pathogenic Salmonella Typhimurium and Yersinia enterocolitica. Novel strain MAHUQ-56T is Gram-positive, aerobic, non-motile, and rod-shaped. Colonies were spherical and milky white. The strain showed positive activity for catalase and nitrate reductase, and the hydrolysis of starch, L-tyrosine, casein, and Tween 20. On the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain MAHUQ-56T belongs to the Arthrobacter genus and is most closely related to Arthrobacter pokkalii P3B162T (98.6%). Arthrobacter bangladeshi MAHUQ-56T has a genome 4,566,112 bp long (26 contigs) with 4125 protein-coding genes, 51 tRNA and 6 rRNA genes. The culture supernatant of Arthrobacter bangladeshi MAHUQ-56T was used for the easy and green synthesis of AgNPs. Synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, FE-TEM, XRD, DLS, and FT-IR. Synthesized AgNPs were spherical and 12–50 nm in size. FT-IR analysis revealed various biomolecules that may be involved in the synthesis process. Synthesized AgNPs showed strong antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant pathogenic S. typhimurium and Y. enterocolitica. MIC values of the synthesized AgNPs against S. typhimurium and Y. enterocolitica were 6.2 and 3.1 ug/mL, respectively. The MBC of synthesized AgNPs for both pathogens was 12.5 ug/mL. FE-SEM analysis revealed the morphological and structural alterations, and damage of pathogens treated by AgNPs. These changes might disturb normal cellular functions, which ultimately leads to the death of cells

Biosynthesis, Characterization and Antibacterial Application of Novel Silver Nanoparticles against Drug Resistant Pathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella Enteritidis

The present study highlights the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using culture supernatant of Massilia sp. MAHUQ-52 as well as the antimicrobial application of synthesized AgNPs against multi-drug resistant pathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella Enteritidis. Well-defined AgNPs formation occurred from the reaction mixture of cell-free supernatant and silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution within 48 h of incubation. UV-visible spectroscopy analysis showed a strong peak at 435 nm, which corresponds to the surface plasmon resonance of AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by FE-TEM, EDX, XRD, DLS and FT-IR. From FE-TEM analysis, it was found that most of the particles were spherical shape, and the size of synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) was 15–55 nm. EDX spectrum revealed a strong silver signal at 3 keV. XRD analysis determined the crystalline, pure, face-centered cubic AgNPs. FT-IR analysis identified various functional molecules that may be involved with the synthesis and stabilization of AgNPs. The antimicrobial activity of Massilia sp. MAHUQ-52 mediated synthesized AgNPs was determined using the disk diffusion method against K. pneumoniae and S. Enteritidis. Biosynthesized AgNPs showed strong antimicrobial activity against both K. pneumoniae and S. Enteritidis. The MICs of synthesized AgNPs against K. pneumoniae and S. Enteritidis were 12.5 and 25.0 μg/mL, respectively. The MBC of biosynthesized AgNPs against both pathogens was 50.0 μg/mL. From FE-SEM analysis, it was found that the AgNPs-treated cells showed morphological changes with irregular and damaged cell walls that culminated in cell death

Probiotic-Mediated Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Applications against Pathogenic Strains of <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7

The present study aimed to suggest a simple and environmentally friendly biosynthesis method of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the strain Bacillus sonorensis MAHUQ-74 isolated from kimchi. Antibacterial activity and mechanisms of AgNPs against antibiotic-resistant pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7 were investigated. The strain MAHUQ-74 had 99.93% relatedness to the B. sonorensis NBRC 101234T strain. The biosynthesized AgNPs had a strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 430 nm. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) image shows the spherical shape and size of the synthesized AgNPs is 13 to 50 nm. XRD analysis and SAED pattern revealed the crystal structure of biosynthesized AgNPs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) data showed various functional groups associated with the reduction of silver ions to AgNPs. The resultant AgNPs showed strong antibacterial activity against nine E. coli O157:H7 pathogens. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the AgNPs synthesized by strain MAHUQ-74 were 3.12 μg/mL for eight E. coli O157:H7 strains and 12.5 μg/mL for strain E. coli ATCC 25922. Minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were 25 μg/mL for E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 35150, E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895, E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 43890, E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 43889, and E. coli ATCC 25922; and 50 μg/mL for E. coli O157:H7 2257, E. coli O157: NM 3204-92, E. coli O157:H7 8624 and E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 43894. FE-SEM analysis demonstrated that the probiotic-mediated synthesized AgNPs produced structural and morphological changes and destroyed the membrane integrity of pathogenic E. coli O157:H7. Therefore, AgNPs synthesized by strain MAHUQ-74 may be potential antibacterial agents for the control of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic strains of E. coli O157:H7