Farm Size and Output in Bangladesh Agriculture: Evidence from Cointegration, Vector Error Correction, Granger Causality and Investigating Returns to Scale

The foremost objective of the paper is to analyze the cointegration, vector error correction mechanism, vibrant causal relationship between farm size and output and investigating returns to scale in Bangladesh agriculture. Applying all requisite time series econometric techniques and covering the period from 1979 to 2013 establishes a stable long run relationship among the considered variables. The paper performs Augmented Dicky Fuller (ADF) and Phillips-Perron (PP) tests to verify the whether the time series are stationary and the long run stable relationship by Johansen and Juselius cointegration test. The paper examines short-term dynamic relationship among the considered variables using a vector error-correction model and Granger causality test is also occupied to find out causal relationship between farm size and output. The paper found short run and long run dynamic stable relationship, unidirectional pair wise Granger causal relationship and decreasing returns to scale among considered variables. Keywords: Farm Size, Output, Integration, Cointegration, Vector Error Correction Model, Granger Causality and Returns to Scale

In-Situ Process Monitoring for Metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) Through Acoustic Technique

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is currently a widely used technology in different industries such as aerospace, medical, and consumer products. Previously it was mainly used for prototyping of the products, but now it is equally valuable for commercial product manufacturing. More profound understanding is still needed to track and identify defects during the AM process to ensure higher quality products with less material waste. Nondestructive testing becomes an essential form of testing for AM parts, where AE is one of the most used methods for in situ process monitoring. The Acoustic Emission (AE) approach has gained a reputation in nondestructive testing (NDT) as one of the most influential and proven techniques in numerous engineering fields. Material testing through Acoustic Emission (AE) has become one of the most popular techniques in AM because of its capability to detect defects and anomalies and monitor the progress of flaws. Various AE technique approaches have been under investigation for in-situ monitoring of AM products. The preliminary results from AE exploration show promising results which need further investigation on data analysis and signal processing. AE monitoring technique allows finding the defects during the fabrication process, so that failure of the AM can be prevented, or the process condition can be finely tuned to avoid significant damages or waste of materials. In this work, recorded AE data over the Direct Energy Deposition (DED) additive manufacturing process was analyzed by the Machine Learning (ML) algorithm to classify different build conditions. The feature extraction method is used to obtain the required data for further processing. Wavelet transformation of signals has been used to acquire the time-frequency spectrum of the AE signals for different process conditions, and image processing by Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is used to identify the transformed spectrum of different build conditions. The identifiers in AE signals are correlated to the part quality by statistical methods. The results show a promising approach for quality evaluation and process monitoring in AM. In this work, the assessment of deposition properties at different process conditions is also done by optical microscope, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and nanoindentation technique

Synthesis of A Novel Super Absorbent Based on Wheat Straw

The purpose of this research is to generate wheat straw based super absorbent which is eco-friendly. The chemical approach of graft-copolymerization is used to create this novel super absorbent polymer. Polyacrylic acid is the building block polymer that is utilized in the production of highly absorbent polymer. Furthermore, water absorption capabilities of these environmentally friendly absorbents are investigated in a variety of conditions and then compared to one another. The polymer is then tested for absorbency. It is discovered that several optimized factors, such as the time span of the immersed sample, the effect of different solutions, and the temperature, has an impact on the absorbencies of the super absorbent. Optical microscope pictures provided proof of the morphological characteristics. The excellent product is achieved with absorbencies of 251 percent in distilled water and 528.34 percent in a 4-weight percent sodium hydroxide solution, respectively. It is also discovered that the absorbency increased in accordance with the increase in temperature. At 80 degrees Celsius, the maximum absorbency is observed in water, at 548.6 percent.Comment: Accepted on International Conference on Mechanical, Industrial and Materials Engineering (ICMIME-2022

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on eHealth Among Doctors Working at Selected Private Hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Twenty-first century healthcare systems face many challenges, eHealth amongst them (i.e., use of Information and Communications Technology for health). The nature and functions of eHealth services are expanding rapidly in Bangladesh, especially in the hospital care setting. Effective functioning of eHealth in a hospital is greatly facilitated when doctors have good knowledge and positive acceptance of eHealth. This study explores the current knowledge, attitude, and practice of eHealth of doctors at a ‘micro level’. Using a cross-sectional descriptive survey, 112 doctors were selected from four hospitals by simple random sampling. The self-administered and semi-structured survey used by both open and closed ended questions to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of eHealth. Of the 112 doctors 50% had average knowledge of eHealth. About 26% had good knowledge and 24% had poor knowledge of eHealth. Among the respondents 78% had a favourable attitude, and 22% had a moderately favourable attitude. The most common uses of eHealth identified were patient follow-up (42%) and diagnostics (28%). The mobile phone was the modality most frequently used by respondents (63%), with use of computers rated as a frequent modality. Associations between the knowledge level and age, gender, rank and service length of the respondents were found in the study. The majority of respondents had average knowledge of eHealth and supported associated eHealth systems. The results of this study are expected to help in future successful implementation of eHealth systems in Bangladesh

Citizen participation in urban local government: a case study of Kanaighat Paurashava in Bangladesh

Scholars have identified many variables as determinants of citizen participation, but not all of these are relevant to citizen participation in specific cultural and political contexts. This paper seeks to identify the specific factors which work as drivers for citizen participation in Bangladesh through a case study of Kanaighat Paurashava (municipality), an urban local government. It identifies the following variables which strongly affect citizen participation: the role of elected representatives, notably their willingness and awareness; the provision of information to citizens; citizens’ capacity; and resources available. Findings also suggest that a holistic approach is needed to understand and change representatives’ attitudes towards citizens and ensure participation

Unveiling the Face of Social Capital : Evidence from Community-Based Solid Waste Management Initiatives in Urban Bangladesh

This dissertation deals with community development and community action in the field of solid waste management (SWM) in two major cities, i.e. Dhaka and Chittagong in Bangladesh. The objective of the study was to identify whether or not the community-based SWM initiatives have emerged through the influences of the characteristics (or sources) of social capital. In line with the objective, it was assumed that the decision to organise a community-based SWM is higher in the neighbourhoods where relatively high level of social capital exists. The theory of social capital has been used here as an analytical tool. Several interesting results came up from the study such as: (i) it reveals that Putnum’s operationalisation of social capital is not fully applicable to a different social and political settings and therefore need to be contextualised according to the local conditions in order to reap benefit. It was found that social capital alone is not sufficient to form community-based SWM initiative in Bangladesh. It works well together with the influence of kinship, patron-client relationship, and power and authority relations of Bangladesh society. Therefore, the localities with a high level of social capital are better able to organise a community-based SWM initiative, if the other factors remain supportive; (ii) failure to organise a community-based SWM initiative not only indicates the lack of sufficient social capital but also is a result of many contesting factors such as: the law and order situation of the country, power politics, political conflict and threat, which contribute either to diminish or to reduce the chances of accumulation of social capital to make collective action possible; (iii) a civic engagement, organising solid waste collection appears to be as much based on strong leadership and patron-client relationships than social capital in terms of social networking and trust; and (iv) the community-based organisations in the urban areas of Bangladesh generally function in accordance with the basic characteristics of the socio-political system of the country

Control of euglenophyte bloom and fish production enhancement using duckweed and lime

Euglenophyte bloom is a common problem in most of the aquaculture ponds in Bangladesh. In the present study we conducted an experiment to control euglenophyte bloom for achieving better fish production using duckweed (Lemna minor) and lime. The experiment was carried out using four treatments, i.e., ponds were supplied with duckweed (T1), lime treatment (T2), both duckweed and lime (T3) and without supply of duckweed and lime (T4). Rohu, catla, mrigal, silver carp and silver barb were stocked and their gut contents were analyzed monthly. The ranges of water quality parameters were analyzed within the productive limit during the experimental period. The mean abundance of euglenophyte was significantly highest in T4 (17.62 ± 1.97 x 10^4 cells/L), followed by T2 (2.96 ± 0.20 x 10^4 cells/L), T1 (1.94 ± 0.35 x 10^4 cells/L) and T3 (1.53 ± 0.42 x 10^4 cells/L). Gut content analysis revealed that considerable amounts of euglenophyte were consumed by silver carp and silver barb, but not preferred by rohu, catla and mrigal. The gross yields of fish were 2133.37, 1967.76, 2816.52 and 1725.62 kg/ha/5 months in T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. The highest fish production in T3 and lowest fish production in T4 indicated the use of duckweed and lime is economically sustainable for controlling euglenophytes bloom, maintaining water quality and getting higher fish production