ROLE OF WOMEN FOR FOOD SECURITY AND ENVIRONMENT IN BANGLADESH

Empowering women has multiple benefits for women themselves and for their families and communities. In Bangladesh, rural women are involved in different income generating activities. As a result, their empowerments are increasing beside the food security, environment and nutrition. The main focus of the study was to determine the women empowerment status through the participation for organic agriculture, food security, environment and nutrition, and to examine the selected characteristics of the rural women. Data were collected January to March, 2013 through pre-tested interview schedule from randomly selected 105 respondent from three villages of Pabna Sadar Upazilla. The selected ten characteristics of the rural women were considered as the independent variable while their empowerment status through participation in IGAs was the dependent variable. Majority (67.62 percent) of the women were medium empowered while 12.38 and 20.00 percent were highly and lowly empowered respectively. Among the six indicators or aspects of empowerment the mean participation in decision making of the respondents was the highest (19.46) and access to service providers was the lowest (10.11). The findings also revealed that the mean of contribution to household agriculture activity was 18.25, access to resources was 15.48 and access to information was 14.32. In the study area, majority of the respondent women were middle aged category, illiterate, medium family size, small farm size, medium family income, medium agricultural knowledge, short training experience, medium socio-economic status, medium attitude and very slight fatalistic category

Adoption and Usage of Web-based Library Resources and Services: an Investigation of icddr,b Library in Bangladesh

Purpose – The core purpose of this study is to explore the web-based library services available in icddr,b Library. In addition, this research aims to investigate the adoption and utilisation of subscribed, registered and open access e-resources by the scientists and researchers at icddr,b Library. The existing facilities that influenced smooth usage of web-based information services of icddr,b library have been assessed. The study involved scientists and researchers of icddr,b. Design/methodology/approach – The study used a mixed-method research design using case study approach. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. An online survey was conducted in June 2017 to ascertain the present status of web-based library facilities and services of icddr,b library. The online survey questionnaire link was distributed through “Google Forms” directed to the most potential researchers (557) of icddr,b. Findings – The findings revealed that participants were moderately aware of the library subscribed and registered e-resources. The study also explored key challenges hindering effective usage of the databases in the library. It discovered that lack of awareness of the databases, low speed internet connectivity, inadequate online databases and lack of skills in searching the databases. Suggestions were also made on the way forward in combating these challenges. The study also indicated that e-resources are very useful to researchers, PubMed and Hinari are the most used databases. Furthermore, it was strongly recommended that the library should market and explore more online resources to attract more users and to do more effective research at icddr,b. Study Limitations: The present study is confined to the current status and trend of using e-resources used by the researchers of icddr,b. The study highlights on the types of web-based resources and services available in icddr,b Library and a small number of samples (213) are covered in this study. Practical implications: Many years later, the icddr,b library will receive a greater impact than present in terms of facilities and services. Other libraries in Bangladesh will also be motivated to develop Intranet site and provide library services through Intranet in respective organization. Ultimately, new system of libraries will be developed and users will be benefited using this new system. Social implications: Library community and others society of Bangladesh will be benefited in reading and using this article. Originality/value – Many papers have been written on electronic resources, but this study specifically focused on subscribed, open access and registered online resources, and it is the first time that an investigation has been made on the use of electronic resources by library users in icddr,b library. The results of the study could be useful for icddr,b Library and other medical libraries in Bangladesh in ensuring that there is a high use of web-based library facilities and services. So that other libraries in Bangladesh will be inspired and encouraged to introduce digital tool facilities and services in libraries of Bangladesh

Screening for microbial load and antibiotic resistance pattern in Escherichia coli isolated from paper currency circulating in Kushtia, Bangladesh

Background: Paper currency is used for every type of commerce and plays an important role in the life of human beings. They are exchanged and come into contact with different environments and many different individuals during their circulation. Therefore, they can become contaminated with microorganisms and transfer bacteria across environments. The present study was aimed for quantitative assessment of microorganisms in circulated paper currency from Kushtia, Bangladesh and antibiotic resistant profiles of isolated Escherichia coli.Methods: A total of 10 paper currency samples currently in circulation involving three denominations (5, 10 and 500) were randomly collected from individuals involved in various occupations including street beggar, local hotel, bus conductor, poultry seller, vegetable seller, fish seller, commercial bank, ATM booth, tea seller, grocery store in Kushtia city, Bangladesh. Selective culture and biochemical tests were performed for the isolation and identification of microbial pathogens. Antibiotic resistance profiles were evaluated for isolated Escherichia coli using Kirby-Bauer method according to CLSI guidelines.Results: Aerobic mesophilic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp. were the highest in paper currency from local hotel and ATM booth. Enterobacteriaceae (including coliforms) were predominantly present in paper currencies collected from local hotel, grocery, fish seller and beggar while Pseudomonas spp. were found in currency notes obtained from ATM booth, poultry farm, vegetable seller and local hotel. Antibiotic resistant profiles of E. coli isolated from local hotel currency showed that 50% of E. coli isolates were multidrug resistant. The highest resistant profile was observed against penicillin (95%) followed by polypeptide (75%), cephalosporin (50%), quinolone (30%) and sulfonamide (5%) groups of antibiotics.Conclusions: Multiple antibiotic resistant pathogenic bacteria are prevalent in paper currency regardless of their sources. Paper currency could contribute in transmission of infectious disease as well as in antibiotic resistance, therefore, should be handled carefully

Islamic worldview-based corporate governance framework in providing guidance on Executive Directors’ remuneration in an Islamic financial institution

This chapter addresses how corporate governance supports shareholder-director conflicts and company success. Islamic financial institution (IFI) governance and performance have not been studied, yet corporate governance has affected previous financial crises. This examines IFI board size, ownership, CEO duality, and pay committee independent directors. Also studied is how Islamic corporate governance influences executive director pay. Thus, IFIs require an IWBCGF to handle current and future corporate governance issues. Qualitative corporate governance metrics research and qualitative Islamic principle evaluation helped exploratory studies attain these goals. The research shows that corporate governance strongly impacts IFI executive pay. These results show that executive directors require an Islamic-based comprehensive governance framework to navigate corporate governance issues. The study makes literary contributions. It tackles the lack of religious research on Islam and IFI corporate governance. It highlights IFIs’ corporate governance and CEO remuneration

Yield And Quality Evaluation Of Capsicum Genotype Under Mesh Net (Umn) And Open Field At Organically Managed Soil In Bangladesh

The study has been carried out at organically converted field under olericulture division of HRC, BARI Gazipur during November 2017 to March 2018 to find out suitable genotypes in terms of horticultural traits and nutritional quality along with growing methods. The two factor experiment was set in a split design where net protection was under main plot and eight capsicum genotypes including 2 released varieties were grown in the sub plot with three replication. Number of fruits per plant varied significantly and the highest number of fruits were yielded by CA0034-3 (17) followed by CA 0036 (16) and CA 0034 (15) under net condition. The lowest numbers of fruits were produced by genotypes BARI mistimorich 1 (6) at UMN. Single fruit wt also differed significantly among the genotypes and also had influenced by net. BARI mistimorich 1 and 2 produced the weightiest fruits (124 and 112 g) at UMN while the same varieties produced the lightest fruits (81.2 and 51.8 g) UMN is a good technology to produce capsicum. BARI mistimorich 1 and 2 are the two varieties released by BARI for conventional farming. In this study it was concluded that the released variety showed good growth along with other genotypes CA 0031 and CA0036 in terms of lycopene and β carotene content

Interaction of palmitic acid with losartan potassium at the binding sites of bovine serum albumin

The binding of losartan potassium, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, to bovine serum albumin was studied by equilibrium dialysis method (ED) in presence or absence of palmitic acid. The study was carried out using ranitidine and diazepam as site-1 and site-2 specific probe, respectively. Different analysis of binding of losartan to bovine serum albumin suggested two sets of association constants: high affinity association constant (k1 = 11.2 x 105 M-1) with low capacity (n1 = 2) and low affinity association (k2 = 2. 63 x 105 M-1) constant with high capacity (n2 = 10) at pH 7.4 and 27°C. During concurrent administration of palmitic acid and losartan potassium in presence or absence of ranitidine or diazepam, it was that found that palmitic acid causes the release of losartan potassium from its binding site on BSA resulting reduced binding of losartan potassium to BSA. The increment in free fraction of losartan potassium was from 13.1% to 47.2 % upon the addition of increased concentration of only palmitic acid at a concentration of 0 x 10-5 M to 16 x 10-5 M. In presence of ranitidine or diazepam as site specific probes, palmitic acid further increases the free fraction of losartan potassium were from 22.8% to 53.4% and 35.3 to 65.5%, respectively. This data provided the evidence of interaction of higher concentration of palmitic acid at the binding sites on BSA changing the pharmacokinetics properties of losartan potassium

Organic System Based Evaluation Of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) For Participatory Plant Breeding In Bangladesh

For Participatory breeding program FGD and online survey was conducted with atakeholders to identify key plant traits and a total 32 diverse set of tomato germplasm was evaluated under organic management using Augmented design to better understand horticultural constraints and identify adapted germplasm for further development. Stakeholders rated more number of fruits per plant, nutrition color (lycopene, β carotene), flavor, virus resistances, stronger root, storability as their top breeding priority, safety was the prior quality characters of tomato. The ANOVA indicated significance difference among genotypes, the result indicated the existence of high morphological variation in tomato genotypes grown in organic system based condition. Yield per plant showed significant variation with the quality parameter like lycopene and β-carotene. To screen out suitable cultivars through multivariate analysis and genetic diversity in tomato genotypes based on 17 characters was estimated using Mahalanobis’s D2statistics. Eight different homozygous divergent genotypes were selected from five different clusters using variance ranking among genotypes within cluster