Public Perception of Different Planting Techniques using Augmented Reality

The objective of this study was to measure public perception of the different planting techniques (block and matrix), which are used at visitor information centers (VICs) and other rights of way (ROW) areas. The main factors that affect public perception of planting techniques were identified through an extensive literature review and qualitative survey from four welcome centers in the state of Georgia. The ranking of those indicators, based on public preferences, was discovered through a quantitative survey. During the first phase of the quantitative survey, images of block and matrix were used. An iOS-based user-friendly and cost-effective augmented reality (AR) app was developed, and a significant difference was found between data with and without AR. Participants were more interactive and engaged in the survey process, largely due to the addition of the AR visuals questionnaire. The ranking of the factors being obtained from the study were: environmental benefits, sustainability, color and aesthetics, cost, maintenance, and restorative effect. The majority of the respondents expressed that block planting configuration was more aesthetically beautiful. However, when all the factors were considered, the public largely preferred matrix planting, as it tends to be more beneficial to the environment. It is sustainable, cost-effective, and requires less maintenance. Results from this study indicated that environmentally beneficial and sustainable planting was more preferred to the traveling people for ROW planting

Seroprevalence of Subclinical HEV Infection in Healthy Pregnant Urban Dwellers of Bangladesh: Identification of Possible Risk Factors

Background: Hepatitis caused by hepatitis E Virus (HEV) is not uncommon in developing countries. It is usually a self-limiting conferring immunity against subsequent infection. However, HEV infection during pregnancy results in varying degree of morbidity, often fatal. The present study was designed to find out the seroprevalence of subclinical HEV infection during pregnancy at different trimesters without history of hepatitis. Materials and Methods: A total 255 asymptomatic healthy pregnant women of three trimesters (85×3=255) with no history of jaundice were included in this cross-sectional study. The subjects were sub-grouped according to socioeconomic status and education level. HEV IgG antibody in serum was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results were expressed as number (percent). Chi-square, Odds Ratio and 95% CI were calculated as applicable. Data analyses were carried out using statistical package for social science for Windows Version 15.0. A p<0.05 was taken as level of significance. Results: Seropositivity for HEV IgG was 38% (96/255) in pregnant women; the higher percentages were recorded in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters − 41% and 46% respectively. The seropositivity of HEV IgG was significantly high in pregnant women with low education level ((p=0.001; OR=2.70, 95% CI=1.602−4.575) and low socioeconomic status (OR=7.54, 95% CI=4.118−13.029) having monthly income below 27,000 taka (p=0.001). Conclusion: Data concluded that seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG is higher at third trimester in pregnant women in Bangladesh where low socio-economic status and less education level were identified as possible risk factors. Appropriate measures may diminish the possible exposure to infection and reduce maternal mortality

Causes and management of secondary postpartum haemorrhage in a tertiary medical college hospital in Bangladesh

Background: Globally postpartum haemorrhage remains a leading cause of maternal death. It affects only 1-2% of postnatal women. This low incidence of secondary PPH and linkage to maternal morbidity rather than mortality was the reason for the little attention among obstetricians, but it is recently gaining importance and interest with the increase morbidity and mortality related to secondary PPH.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on the diagnosed patients of secondary PPH admitted in Enam Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January 2015 to December 2016. Among 33 cases of secondary PPH age of the patients, parity, mode of delivery, causes and management were noted from medical records. All data was analyzed by SPSS16.Results: Among 33 patients 14 (42.4%) were primi and 19 (57.6%) were multipara, age between 18 to 38 years, majority admitted 2nd and 3rd week after delivery. Among 33 patients 12% delivered vaginally at home and 30% vaginally at hospital and 58% undergone LUCS. We found 34% retained bits of placenta, 27% uterine wound dehiscence, 24% retained clots and 15% endometritis as causes. Less than 3 units blood needed in 22 (66.7%) patients and 11 (33.3%) needed more than 3 units. About 6 (18%) patients were treated conservatively, MVA were needed in 18 (55%) patients, repair of wound in 4 (12%) and TAH was in 5 (15%).Conclusions: Secondary PPH is increasing may result in significant maternal morbidity as well as mortality. More study needed to identify the risk factors and causes to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity

Skeletal Pattern of Bangladeshi Patients with Class II Malocclusion Attending in a Selected Private Setting

Background: The term "Class II malocclusion" encompasses a range of dental and skeletal characteristics, making precise diagnosis and treatment planning challenging. This study aimed to examine 32 Bangladeshi patients with Class II malocclusion to evaluate maxillary and mandibular skeletal positions using cephalometric measurements commonly used in clinical practice. Methods: Study casts and lateral cephalograms of 32 patients (17 females and 15 males) with Class II malocclusion were analyzed. Inclusion criteria comprised Class II molar relationship, the absence of craniofacial deformities, and no previous orthodontic treatment. Cephalometric measurements included SNA, SNB, and ANB angles, and data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Among the patients, 53% exhibited maxillary skeletal protrusion, 43% had mandibular retrusion, and only 3.1% presented both maxillary protrusion and mandibular retrusion. Surprisingly, 31.2% showed maxillary skeletal retrusion, and 28.1% exhibited mandibular protrusion, highlighting the significant variation in skeletal patterns within this cohort. Conclusion: Our findings emphasize the diverse skeletal patterns present among Bangladeshi patients with Class II malocclusion. The implications of these variations for treatment planning are substantial, as the treatment approach may differ depending on the underlying skeletal pattern. Given this diversity, individualized assessment and tailored treatment strategies are essential to achieve optimal outcomes. While this study has provided valuable insights, future research with larger and more diverse samples is warranted to further explore these complex relationships

Group prenatal care experiences among pregnant women in a Bangladeshi community

BACKGROUND: Complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and following delivery remain significant challenges that contribute to maternal morbidity and mortality, thus affecting health systems worldwide. Group prenatal care (GPC) is an integrated approach incorporating peer support and health education that provides prenatal care in a group setting. The GPC approach was piloted in a district of Bangladesh to measure the feasibility and effectiveness of GPC compared to individual care. Understanding the experiences of women of receiving this grouped care approach is crucial to understand the perspectives, perception, and acceptability of the programme among mothers, which are lack in Bangladesh. The objective of the present study was to understand the core experiences and perspectives of mothers who participated in GPC sessions during their pregnancy period. METHODS: A qualitative research approach was used to understand the experiences of women receiving GPC. A total of 21 in-depth interviews were conducted in this study targeting pregnant mothers who attended all recommended GPC sessions. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by trained and experienced interviewers using a specific interview guideline to achieve detailed responses. Thematic analysis was conducted to analyse the data. RESULTS: Mothers appreciated receiving pregnancy care in group setting and expressed their preferences towards GPC compared to individual care. Themes included the comprehensiveness of GPC, prescheduled appointments and reduced waiting time, social gathering, coping with common discomforts, relationship with service providers, birth preparedness, and recommendations from participating mothers. The themes conveyed overall positive experiences of the participating mothers, with suggestions for further betterment of the programme. Nevertheless, the reported experiences of women involved in the study suggests that the inclusion of a specialist in group care, post-partum care, and family planning advice will be more beneficial in the GPC model. CONCLUSIONS: The overall experiences of the women in the present study suggest that GPC is helpful for them, and it is useful to reduce complications during pregnancy. The GPC model promises movement towards family-supported care, as explained by the participants

Evaluation in Mice of a Conjugate Vaccine for Cholera Made from Vibrio cholerae O1 (Ogawa) O-Specific Polysaccharide

Background: Protective immunity against cholera is serogroup specific. Serogroup specificity in Vibrio cholerae is determined by the O-specific polysaccharide (OSP) of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Generally, polysaccharides are poorly immunogenic, especially in young children. Methodology Here we report the evaluation in mice of a conjugate vaccine for cholera (OSP:TThc) made from V. cholerae O1 Ogawa O-Specific Polysaccharide–core (OSP) and recombinant tetanus toxoid heavy chain fragment (TThc). We immunized mice intramuscularly on days 0, 21, and 42 with OSP:TThc or OSP only, with or without dmLT, a non-toxigenic immunoadjuvant derived from heat labile toxin of Escherichia coli. Principal Findings We detected significant serum IgG antibody responses targeting OSP following a single immunization in mice receiving OSP:TThc with or without adjuvant. Anti-LPS IgG responses were detected following a second immunization in these cohorts. No anti-OSP or anti-LPS IgG responses were detected at any time in animals receiving un-conjugated OSP with or without immunoadjuvant, and in animals receiving immunoadjuvant alone. Responses were highest following immunization with adjuvant. Serum anti-OSP IgM responses were detected in mice receiving OSP:TThc with or without immunoadjuvant, and in mice receiving unconjugated OSP. Serum anti-LPS IgM and vibriocidal responses were detected in all vaccine cohorts except in mice receiving immunoadjuvant alone. No significant IgA anti-OSP or anti-LPS responses developed in any group. Administration of OSP:TThc and adjuvant also induced memory B cell responses targeting OSP and resulted in 95% protective efficacy in a mouse lethality cholera challenge model. Conclusion: We describe a protectively immunogenic cholera conjugate in mice. Development of a cholera conjugate vaccine could assist in inducing long-term protective immunity, especially in young children who respond poorly to polysaccharide antigens

Identification of Immunogenic Salmonella enterica Serotype Typhi Antigens Expressed in Chronic Biliary Carriers of S. Typhi in Kathmandu, Nepal

Background: Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi can colonize and persist in the biliary tract of infected individuals, resulting in a state of asymptomatic chronic carriage. Chronic carriers may act as persistent reservoirs of infection within a community and may introduce infection to susceptible individuals and new communities. Little is known about the interaction between the host and pathogen in the biliary tract of chronic carriers, and there is currently no reliable diagnostic assay to identify asymptomatic S. Typhi carriage. Methodology/Principal Findings To study host-pathogen interactions in the biliary tract during S. Typhi carriage, we applied an immunoscreening technique called in vivo-induced antigen technology (IVIAT), to identify potential biomarkers unique to carriers. IVIAT identifies humorally immunogenic bacterial antigens expressed uniquely in the in vivo environment, and we hypothesized that S. Typhi surviving in the biliary tract of humans may express a distinct antigenic profile. Thirteen S. Typhi antigens that were immunoreactive in carriers, but not in healthy individuals from a typhoid endemic area, were identified. The identified antigens included a number of putative membrane proteins, lipoproteins, and hemolysin-related proteins. YncE (STY1479), an uncharacterized protein with an ATP-binding motif, gave prominent responses in our screen. The response to YncE in patients whose biliary tract contained S. Typhi was compared to responses in patients whose biliary tract did not contain S. Typhi, patients with acute typhoid fever, and healthy controls residing in a typhoid endemic area. Seven of 10 (70%) chronic carriers, 0 of 8 bile culture-negative controls (0%), 0 of 8 healthy Bangladeshis (0%), and 1 of 8 (12.5%) Bangladeshis with acute typhoid fever had detectable anti-YncE IgG in blood. IgA responses were also present. Conclusions/Significance: Further evaluation of YncE and other antigens identified by IVIAT could lead to the development of improved diagnostic assays to identify asymptomatic S. Typhi carriers