Relative antagonism of mutants of the CGRP receptor extracellular loop 2 domain (ECL2) using a truncated competitive antagonist (CGRP8-37):evidence for the dual involvement of ECL2 in the two-domain binding model

The second extracellular loop (ECL2) of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family is important for ligand interaction and drug discovery. ECL2 of the family B cardioprotective calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor is required for cell signaling. Family B GPCR ligands have two regions; the N-terminus mediates receptor activation, and the remainder confers high-affinity binding. Comparing antagonism of CGRP8-37 at a number of point mutations of ECL2 of the CGRP receptor, we show that the ECL2 potentially facilitates interaction with up to the 18 N-terminal residues of CGRP. This has implications for understanding family B GPCR activation and for drug design at the CGRP receptor

A Review on Embryonic Development of Inland Fishes of Bangladesh

The early developmental pattern of inland fishes of Bangladesh are not well studied though it has a great importance in fisheries and aquaculture sector. The embryonic study provides interesting information on further growth and health of the fish and considered as an essential component for optimization of fish seed production by natural and induced breeding. Therefore, the current review work has been undertaken to provide a detail information on embryonic development of important inland fishes of Bangladesh. Information was collected from published scientific papers, un-published Masters and PhD dissertations from universities, popular articles and other published and grey literature. Diameters of unfertilized egg of the reviewed fish species were found to be 0.5 to 1.3 mm and fertilized egg were 0.49 to 1.6 mm. Shapes of the egg were also variable from species to species. There is little information available on egg activation and egg micropyle of fish species of Bangladesh. The fertilization rate of different fishes ranged from 40.1% to 93.9%. There are different stages of early development in different species and time needs to complete the stages also vary. The timing of post hatching development by metamorphosis was found to vary based on the fish species from several days to weeks. Different factors like temperature, photoperiod, DO, seasonality and presence of chemicals in water were found to affect the early development of fish. The review included eighteen inland fishes and unearthed useful insights of their embryonic development and influence of different factors. As we expect, the outcome of the study would provide a baseline and would be very useful in conducting further research on the embryology of indigenous fishes of Bangladesh.&nbsp

Global, regional, and national progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 for neonatal and child health: all-cause and cause-specific mortality findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 has targeted elimination of preventable child mortality, reduction of neonatal death to less than 12 per 1000 livebirths, and reduction of death of children younger than 5 years to less than 25 per 1000 livebirths, for each country by 2030. To understand current rates, recent trends, and potential trajectories of child mortality for the next decade, we present the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 findings for all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality in children younger than 5 years of age, with multiple scenarios for child mortality in 2030 that include the consideration of potential effects of COVID-19, and a novel framework for quantifying optimal child survival. Methods We completed all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality analyses from 204 countries and territories for detailed age groups separately, with aggregated mortality probabilities per 1000 livebirths computed for neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and under-5 mortality rate (USMR). Scenarios for 2030 represent different potential trajectories, notably including potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact of improvements preferentially targeting neonatal survival. Optimal child survival metrics were developed by age, sex, and cause of death across all GBD location-years. The first metric is a global optimum and is based on the lowest observed mortality, and the second is a survival potential frontier that is based on stochastic frontier analysis of observed mortality and Healthcare Access and Quality Index. Findings Global U5MR decreased from 71.2 deaths per 1000 livebirths (95% uncertainty interval WI] 68.3-74-0) in 2000 to 37.1 (33.2-41.7) in 2019 while global NMR correspondingly declined more slowly from 28.0 deaths per 1000 live births (26.8-29-5) in 2000 to 17.9 (16.3-19-8) in 2019. In 2019,136 (67%) of 204 countries had a USMR at or below the SDG 3.2 threshold and 133 (65%) had an NMR at or below the SDG 3.2 threshold, and the reference scenario suggests that by 2030,154 (75%) of all countries could meet the U5MR targets, and 139 (68%) could meet the NMR targets. Deaths of children younger than 5 years totalled 9.65 million (95% UI 9.05-10.30) in 2000 and 5.05 million (4.27-6.02) in 2019, with the neonatal fraction of these deaths increasing from 39% (3.76 million 95% UI 3.53-4.021) in 2000 to 48% (2.42 million; 2.06-2.86) in 2019. NMR and U5MR were generally higher in males than in females, although there was no statistically significant difference at the global level. Neonatal disorders remained the leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years in 2019, followed by lower respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, congenital birth defects, and malaria. The global optimum analysis suggests NMR could be reduced to as low as 0.80 (95% UI 0.71-0.86) deaths per 1000 livebirths and U5MR to 1.44 (95% UI 1-27-1.58) deaths per 1000 livebirths, and in 2019, there were as many as 1.87 million (95% UI 1-35-2.58; 37% 95% UI 32-43]) of 5.05 million more deaths of children younger than 5 years than the survival potential frontier. Interpretation Global child mortality declined by almost half between 2000 and 2019, but progress remains slower in neonates and 65 (32%) of 204 countries, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia, are not on track to meet either SDG 3.2 target by 2030. Focused improvements in perinatal and newborn care, continued and expanded delivery of essential interventions such as vaccination and infection prevention, an enhanced focus on equity, continued focus on poverty reduction and education, and investment in strengthening health systems across the development spectrum have the potential to substantially improve USMR. Given the widespread effects of COVID-19, considerable effort will be required to maintain and accelerate progress. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd

Development of Double C-Shaped Left-Handed Metamaterial for Dual-Band Wi-Fi and Satellite Communication Application with High Effective Medium Radio and Wide Bandwidth

The development and improvement of the dual-band 802.11ac standard Wi-Fi and wide bandwidth satellite communication devices are currently research subjects that have garnered significant interest. In this paper, double C-shaped two split-ring resonator (SRR) bounded unit cells were developed, which are applicable for S, C, and X band applications, including dual-band Wi-Fi communication devices and satellite communication applications for its effective medium ratio (EMR) of 15.6, which results in a 2.4 GHz resonance frequency and wide bandwidth (S21 < −10 dB) of 1650 MHz at an 11.5 GHz resonance frequency. A copper resonator and the popular substrate material Rogers RT 5880 (thickness of 1.575 mm) were adopted for analyzing the characteristics of this unit cell. The 8×8 mm2 structure was designed and simulated using a commercially available electromagnetic simulator CST (Computer Simulation Technology) Studio Suite 2019, which was utilized at four resonance frequencies: 2.4 GHz, 5.6 GHz, 8.93 GHz, and 11.5 GHz. The electric field, magnetic field, and surface current distribution were examined by modifying the metamaterial unit cell design structure, showing effective results. To confirm the CST simulation results, the newly designed double C-shaped double-negative metamaterial (DNG) was also simulated with the Ansys High-Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) and compared with the extracted results. The suggested metamaterial is advised for usage in Wi-Fi and satellite communication applications for superior long-distance communication performance and efficiency with the compactness of the structure

Development of Double C-Shaped Left-Handed Metamaterial for Dual-Band Wi-Fi and Satellite Communication Application with High Effective Medium Radio and Wide Bandwidth

The development and improvement of the dual-band 802.11ac standard Wi-Fi and wide bandwidth satellite communication devices are currently research subjects that have garnered significant interest. In this paper, double C-shaped two split-ring resonator (SRR) bounded unit cells were developed, which are applicable for S, C, and X band applications, including dual-band Wi-Fi communication devices and satellite communication applications for its effective medium ratio (EMR) of 15.6, which results in a 2.4 GHz resonance frequency and wide bandwidth (S21 8×8 mm2 structure was designed and simulated using a commercially available electromagnetic simulator CST (Computer Simulation Technology) Studio Suite 2019, which was utilized at four resonance frequencies: 2.4 GHz, 5.6 GHz, 8.93 GHz, and 11.5 GHz. The electric field, magnetic field, and surface current distribution were examined by modifying the metamaterial unit cell design structure, showing effective results. To confirm the CST simulation results, the newly designed double C-shaped double-negative metamaterial (DNG) was also simulated with the Ansys High-Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) and compared with the extracted results. The suggested metamaterial is advised for usage in Wi-Fi and satellite communication applications for superior long-distance communication performance and efficiency with the compactness of the structure

The Promise of Teleconsultation in the Era of Pandemic: A Case from Bangladesh

Item not available in this repository.Background:In 2016, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) established a teleconsultation service called Shastho Batayon to increase access to physicians. During COVID-19 pandemic, health care access became limited due to movement restrictions. In response, GoB made Shastho Batayon toll free, publicized the number through media, increased the number of call center doctors, introduced automated messages on COVID-19 preventive measures, and developed a scoring system to classify risk groups for COVID-19. Objectives and Methods:In this case report, we describe how an existing national teleconsultation service can be utilized in a low- and middle-income country to address primary health care needs during a public health emergency. We conducted secondary analysis of Shastho Batayon service data from January to April 2020. Results:The total calls for doctor's consultation increased during the pandemic. Prepandemic, Shastho Batayon received less than 20,000 calls per month. In March 2020, when the first cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, Shastho Batayon services received 60,811 calls for doctor's consultation, which increased to 125,660 calls in April, 2020. The doctor's consultation for primary care has increased for all conditions. Shastho Batayon services screened 28,944 patients with the influenza-like illness or COVID-19-like symptoms in March and April, 2020, provided preventive measures, advice, and referral to designated hospitals based on a national guideline. Conclusions:In public health emergencies such as COVID-19 pandemic, teleconsultation services can help provide prevention guidelines, debunk misinformation, identify risk categories, and refer people to appropriate service and facilities in a timely manner. , , andhttps://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2021.052

Antioxidant properties and phenolic profiling by UPLC-QTOF-MS of Ajwah, Safawy and Sukkari cultivars of date palm

Date palm (P. dactylifera) plays a vital role in ethnomedicinal practices in several parts of the world. There are over 2000 cultivars of date palm that differ in chemical composition and extent of bioactivity. The present study was undertaken to comparatively evaluate the antioxidant potential of three cultivars of date palm (Ajwah, Safawy and Sukkari) from Saudi Arabia and analyze their phenolic constituents in order to draw a rationale for their activity. Antioxidant activities of the date cultivars were evaluated by different quantitative methods including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, total antioxidant capacity, reducing power, total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC) and tannin content (TTC), while qualitative phenolic composition was determined using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadropole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). All the three date extracts showed good DPPH radical scavenging (IC50 103-177 mu g/mL) and hydroxyl radical scavenging (IC50 1.1-1.55 mg/mL) activity and total antioxidant capacity (IC50 87-192 mu g/mL). The reducing power was also comparable to that of ascorbic acid, used as standard in above experiments. All the three samples contain significant amount of major antioxidant components (phenolic, flavonoid and tannin) that successfully correlates with the results of radical scavenging assays. UPLC-QTOF-MS revealed a total of 22 compounds in these date cultivars classified into common phenolics, flavonoids, sterols and phytoestrogens. Significant variation in the degree of antioxidant activity of these three date cultivars can be attributed to the difference in the content and composition of phenolic compounds

Knowledge and Attitude towards COVID-19: A Cross Sectional Study in Bangladesh through Phone and Online Survey

Aim: This study investigated the knowledge and attitudes towards COVID-19 in Bangladeshi adults by online and phone survey methods during the early stage of its spread. Methods: Data were collected through phone calls (April 14-23, 2020) and online survey (April 18-19, 2020) in Bangladesh. The questionnaire had 20 knowledge questions with each correct response getting one point and incorrect/don’t know response getting no point (maximum total knowledge score 20). Participants scoring >17 were categorized as having good knowledge. Results: The percentages of good knowledge holders were 57.6%, 75.1%, and 95.8% in the phone, online non-medical, and online medical participants, respectively. Most of the phone and online participants had good knowledge of the preventive practices of COVID-19. However, among the non-medical participants (both phone and online), the correct response rates were lower than 80% for the knowledge questions asking about the facts that - some patients may have no symptoms, diarrhea is a symptom of this disease and that it cannot be prevented by any currently available medication. Male gender, higher education, living in town/urban areas, good financial condition, and use of internet were positively associated with higher knowledge score among the non-medical participants. However, higher knowledge score was associated with having less confidence in the final control of COVID-19. Conclusion: Our study identified some COVID-19 information that were less known among the participants and the potential factors that were associated with having good versus poor knowledge. Besides, this study sheds light on the attitude of Bangladeshi adults towards COVID-19