Mapping Opportunities to Increase Productivity in Coastal Bangladesh

The Ganges Basin Development Challenge (GBDC) Program of the CGIAR Challenge Program for Water and Food is focusing on improving livelihoods and increasing productivity sustainably in the coastal polder zone, and has developed and tested innovative cropping systems and water management practices suited to the local conditions.Before a new cropping system can be recommended, it is important to identify its “extrapolation domain,” which determines where it could be successful

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated factors among Bangladeshi slum and non-slum dwellers in pre-COVID-19 vaccination era: October 2020 to February 2021

Background Seroprevalence studies have been carried out in many developed and developing countries to evaluate ongoing and past infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Data on this infection in marginalized populations in urban slums are limited, which may offer crucial information to update prevention and mitigation policies and strategies. We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and factors associated with seropositivity in slum and non-slum communities in two large cities in Bangladesh. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out among the target population in Dhaka and Chattogram cities between October 2020 and February 2021. Questionnaire-based data, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements and blood were obtained. SARS-CoV-2 serology was assessed by Roche Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay. Results Among the 3220 participants (2444 adults, ≥18 years; 776 children, 10–17 years), the overall weighted seroprevalence was 67.3% (95% confidence intervals (CI) = 65.2, 69.3) with 71.0% in slum (95% CI = 68.7, 72.2) and 62.2% in non-slum (95% CI = 58.5, 65.8). The weighted seroprevalence was 72.9% in Dhaka and 54.2% in Chattogram. Seroprevalence was positively associated with limited years of formal education (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.61; 95% CI = 1.43, 1.82), lower income (aOR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.46), overweight (aOR = 1.2835; 95% CI = 1.26, 1.97), diabetes (aOR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.21, 2.32) and heart disease (aOR = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.86). Contrarily, negative associations were found between seropositivity and regular wearing of masks and washing hands, and prior BCG vaccination. About 63% of the population had asymptomatic infection; only 33% slum and 49% non-slum population showed symptomatic infection. Conclusion The estimated seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was more prominent in impoverished informal settlements than in the adjacent middle-income non-slum areas. Additional factors associated with seropositivity included limited education, low income, overweight and pre-existing chronic conditions. Behavioral factors such as regular wearing of masks and washing hands were associated with lower probability of seropositivity.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268093pubpu

COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION OF LIVE FEED (COPEPODS RICH) AT THE NURSERY LEVEL IN BANGLADESH

Live feed on hatcheries is essential for many aquaculture species and this situation is predicted for the future. Therefore, a two-year study (March 2020 to February 2022) was performed in Ballavdikanda, Bangladesh, for commercial production as live feed for fish farms. Live feed was produced/decimal/m water depth by a mixture (with live feed creator 10gm, NaHCO3 100gm, wheat flour 200gm, rice polish 300gm, water 3 liters and fermented for 3 days) in the nursery pond. Live feed’s production cost (BDT) significantly achieved 189.50% profit. This mixture was applied directly to nursery ponds and a large number of zooplanktons germinated after 3-4 days of application for consumption by fish fry Cirrhinus cirrhosis, Oreochromis niloticus, Anabas testudineus, Ompokpabda, Cyprinus carpio and Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The live feed significantly decreased 20% feed cost and raised the fry survival rate upto 85%-90% with improved physical appearance, attractive body color and strength, whereas the survival rate in the control treatment was 50%-60%. It is suggested that the Copepod can be used as a live feed to produce commercially important fish. We concluded and suggested that the authority expand the scope of this live feed production and commercialization at the farmer level throughout the country

Brugada syndrome with a novel missense mutation in SCN5A gene: A case report from Bangladesh

Brugada syndrome is an inherited cardiac arrhythmia that follows autosomal dominant transmission and can cause sudden death. We report a case of Brugada syndrome in a 55-year-old male patient presented with recurrent palpitation, atypical chest pain and presyncope. ECG changes were consistent with type 1 Brugada. Gene analysis revealed a novel missense mutation in SCN5A gene with a genetic variation of D785N and a nucleotide change at 2353G-A. One of his children also had the same mutation. To our knowledge this is the first genetically proved case of Brugada syndrome in Bangladesh

Designing and development of voice to machine interfacing technique

In this paper, microcontroller based automatic door open system has been developed. The system is developed as speech recognition circuit where programmable voice is used as reference. Programmable means trained voice has been used for identification of authorized and unauthorized person. As software part, MATLAB GUI interface has been used to record authorized voice, and to synthesize the recorded voice with feature extraction such as power spectral density of peak frequency by FFT (Fast Fourier Transform). Then these features will be verified with every incoming voice. This voice activity detection (VAD) is designed and developed to divide the speech signal into speech segment and non-speech segments. As hardware part, ARDUINO microcontroller has been used to implement the circuitry for this well trained automatic security system. This system is with low cost and well-performed in less noisy environment. Accuracy has been obtained around 99%. This system can also be applicable for other controlled access services like voice based biometrics, database access services, voice based dialing, voice mail and remote access to the computers.</p

The intra-articular injection of RANKL-binding peptides inhibits cartilage degeneration in a murine model of osteoarthritis

We recently found that the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-binding peptide, OP3-4 stimulated the differentiation of both chondrocytes and osteoblasts. OP3-4 is also shown to inhibit cartilage degeneration. To clarify whether the peptide can inhibit cartilage degeneration without stimulating bone formation, we first performed a proliferation assay using C3H10T1/2 (the murine mesenchymal stem cell line), which is the common origin of both chondrocytes and osteoblasts. The RANKL-binding peptides, OP3-4 and W9, promoted cellular proliferation at 24 and 48 h, respectively. Next, we injected both peptides into the intra-articular space of the knee joints of mice with monosodium-iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis to clarify the effects of the peptides on cartilage tissue. Twenty-five nine-week-old male C57BL/6J mice received injections of vehicle, or the same molar amount of W9, OP3-4, or a control peptide (which could not stimulate osteoblast differentiation) on days 7, 14, and 21 after the injection of MIA. The mice were sacrificed on day 28. The histomorphometric analyses revealed that both peptides inhibited the degeneration of cartilage without enhancing bone formation activity. Our data suggest that the stimulation of mesenchymal cell proliferation by the RANKL-binding peptides might lead to the inhibition of cartilage degeneration

Command area of the five major river basins located in the south-central coastal zone of Bangladesh.

Command area of the five major river basins located in the south-central coastal zone of Bangladesh.</p

Change in cropland area that could potentially be irrigated in the south-central region of Bangladesh from January to April 2015.

Change in cropland area that could potentially be irrigated in the south-central region of Bangladesh from January to April 2015.</p