Social Welfare and Poverty Reduction Activities of NGOs in Bangladesh: An Empirical Study

Bangladesh is both a developing nation and a medium-sized economic power. It is among the eleven market-based middle-income countries with the fastest expanding economies. It is the forty-second market-based economy on the planet in nominal terms and the thirty-first largest by purchasing power parity. According to the IMF, Bangladesh's economy is the second biggest country on an upswing in 2016, with an annual rate of 7.1%. Since the early 2000s, Bangladesh's poverty has unexpectedly decreased, accelerating economic growth. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) actively contribute to the decline of extreme poverty in our nation. NGOs engaged in some charitable work and improved social welfare. This study's primary goal is to show how NGOs and their initiatives affect Bangladesh's social welfare and poverty reduction. Researchers have used primary and secondary data and powerful statistical tools to assess pertinent data to accomplish these goals. From the researchers' observations, data analysis, and findings, it is clear that NGO programs significantly promote social welfare and reduce poverty in Bangladesh

Management of Tooth Resorption by Using Calcium Hydroxide: A Case Report

In this case report, the treatment of internal root resorption in a 24 years-old male was done by using nonsurgical root canal therapy and the clinical outcome was evaluated. Both the maxillary central incisors were examined clinico-radiographically. On clinical examination, the maxillary incisors were found discolored. Radiographic examination revealed a punched-out radiolucent lesion on the cervical area of pulpal canal of both of the teeth and periradicular radiolucency was also evident. Conservative non-surgical root canal treatment was performed with long term calcium-hydroxide therapy. Following eight months of the treatment, the resorption process was stopped and a calcific bridge was formed at the apex of the roots indicated the evidence of recalcification. Conventional root canal obturation method was implied followed by clinical and radiological evaluation for next two years.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bsmmuj.v5i1.11029 BSMMU J 2012; 5(1):72-75

Knowledge, attitudes and practice of condom use among the married women in Mirpur area of Dhaka city, Bangladesh

Background: Condom is an important method of family planning and prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Condom is the only contraceptive method that can protect against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Unprotected sex leads to many unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The family planning saves lives of women and children and improves the quality of life. This study was aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice of condom use among the married women in Mirpur area of Dhaka city in Bangladesh.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the randomly selected sample of 101 women aged 15-49 years from selected areas of Mirpur in Dhaka city of Bangladesh. Pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used to elicit the required information from the study participants using face to face interview. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS 21.0 version.Results: Only 5.9% of the study participants had ever used condom. Most of the study participants (93.1%) considered a condom as an effective method for birth control and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (10.9%). However, 36.6% of them believed that condom use had some harmful effects. The main reason for condom use among the users was for family planning (83.3%) and the rest (16.7%) mentioned that it was due to STIs prevention and family planning. The condom use was found significantly associated with age, educational level, partner’s educational level, socio-economic status, and perceived risk of STIs.Conclusions: The study revealed that the rate of condom use was very low among the study participants. This might be due to lack of knowledge about proper and effective use of condoms, low perception of risk of STIs, misperception about harmful effects of condoms and the use of other family planning methods by respondents

Global Oil Price and Its Economic Impact in Bangladesh

This paper highlighted the plummeting price of oil that is at present the most sensational energy story in the world. This research work outlined the main reasons for the current situation is the low demand for oil as well as concerned companies found it more profitable to extract oil by unconventional methods. In Bangladesh, no changes have been made in the oil price. By figure, at present (June 2017) BPC (Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation) is making profit of Tk 13.77 per liter of Kerosene, of Tk 14.68 per liter of Diesel, of Tk 19.57 per liter of Furnace oil and of Tk 18.75 per liter of jet fuel oil where the very latest world crude oil price come down $ 35.62. The present study is done to make the overview of the world oil prices and Bangladesh as well using purely secondary data collected mostly from newspaper reports, websites, magazines, journals, periodic, reviews and various published data. This study also investigates the impact of the sharp fall oil price to the economy of Bangladesh. In the study, there is seen negatively correlation with the oil price of the world and that of Bangladesh. This paper will be useful to the all stakeholders even policy makers to take proper initiatives for the adjustment of the plummeting oil price of the world. This present study may disseminate that the BPC, as the government-sponsored firm, cannot make the maximum profit as like the Monopoly Company in Bangladesh, so, the retail consumer may give the benefits of the adjustment with the sharp oil price fall in the world

Knowledge and practice regarding prevention of puerperal sepsis among postpartum women attending a private hospital in Bangladesh

Background: Puerperal sepsis is a common pregnancy-related condition that could eventually lead to obstetric shock or sometimes death. In developing world, the puerperal sepsis is the second most cause of maternal mortality. Cases of Maternal mortality have not declined in spite of efforts by both the public and private sector to prevent such deaths.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 postpartum mothers who attended Ibn Sina Medical College Hospital (ISMCH) Bangladesh during August to December 2017. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select the study participants and the data was collected using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire by face to face interview. The collected information was analysed using SPSS 22.0 version.Results: About 50.7% of the study participants were in the age group 19-29 years and the mean age of the study participants was 29.6±15.9 years. More than seven-tenths (73.3%) of the study participants were Muslims and the majority (24.7%) of the study participants had senior secondary certificate. Most of the study participants (62%) were living in urban area and only 18.7% were service holders. Only 39.3% of the respondents think that they have sufficient knowledge regarding prevention of puerperal sepsis and about 78% of the study participants mentioned that getting immediate medical care for any wounds or even seasonal diseases prevents puerperal sepsis. About 37.4% were disagreed to avoid sexual intercourse during last 2 months of pregnancy prevents puerperal sepsis and about 51.3% were agreed to avoid appearances in crowded and unhygienic places, this will prevent from catching respiratory diseases.Conclusions: The findings reported that most of the study participants had poor level of knowledge regarding prevention of puerperal sepsis. However, the study participants had satisfactory practice level about prevention of puerperal sepsis. It further reveals that educational level and age of the study participants was found statistically significant with knowledge about prevention of puerperal sepsis

Genetic variation and population structure of spottybelly greenling (Hexagrammos agrammus) in Korean coasts analyzed by DNA markers emphasizing on microsatellites

Two nuclear microsatellite DNA loci along with partial sequences of mitochondrial DNA tRNAPRO-D-loop region were analyzed to assess the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of spottybelly greenling (Hexagrammos agrammus). A total of 85 individuals were investigated from two different locations at the East and the South coasts of Korea which are Imwonjin (IM) and Tongyeong (TN), respectively. In the analysis of genetic diversity, nucleotide diversities were low showing 0.01 whereas haplotype diversities were as high as 0.92 and 0.97 in IM and TN populations, respectively indicating population bottleneck after rapid growth of these populations. No significant genealogical branches or clusters were recognized on the neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree. Pairwise population statistics FST and the exact test of population differentiation from the analysis of microsatellite DNA loci demonstrated no significant genetic difference between two populations investigated in the Korean coasts. In addition, significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and heterozygote deficiencies were found from the microsatellite DNA loci. The results of the study will help to make a plan for fisheries management of the species

Response of morphological and biochemical traits of maize genotypes under waterlogging stress

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereal crops cultivated around the world. Waterlogging stress is a major production constraint of maize production in rain-fed agricultural systems. The main objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of continuous waterlogging on morphological and biochemical traits of maize genotypes at the vegetative stage. Ten maize genotypes were treated under no waterlogging (control) and continuous waterlogging of five centimeters depth for 10 days. The treatments were applied to the plants at their 45 days of age. Visual leaf injury scores from Leaf 4 (youngest leaf is the reference point) to Leaf 7 separated tolerant and susceptible genotypes. Waterlogging stress significantly reduced the total number of live leaves and chlorophyll content in leaf tissues in susceptible genotypes. The anatomical study revealed that tolerant maize genotypes produce a large number of aerenchyma cells under waterlogging stress compared to susceptible genotypes. The enzymatic activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and peroxidase (POD) exhibited a greater increase in tolerant genotypes than susceptible genotypes whereas the contents of reactive oxygen species (H2O2) greatly increased in susceptible genotypes than tolerant genotypes under waterlogging stress compared to control. Principal component 2 (PC2) indicated that increasing plant height in the genotypes BHM-14, BHM-13 and BHM-9 was associated with waterlogging tolerance. The findings of this experiment will add value to maize breeding to screen out maize genotypes for waterlogging stress tolerance

Global Oil Price and Its Economic Impact in Bangladesh

This paper highlighted the plummeting price of oil that is at present the most sensational energy story in the world. This research work outlined the main reasons for the current situation is the low demand for oil as well as concerned companies found it more profitable to extract oil by unconventional methods. In Bangladesh, no changes have been made in the oil price. By figure, at present (June 2017) BPC (Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation) is making profit of Tk 13.77 per liter of Kerosene, of Tk 14.68 per liter of Diesel, of Tk 19.57 per liter of Furnace oil and of Tk 18.75 per liter of jet fuel oil where the very latest world crude oil price come down $ 35.62. The present study is done to make the overview of the world oil prices and Bangladesh as well using purely secondary data collected mostly from newspaper reports, websites, magazines, journals, periodic, reviews and various published data. This study also investigates the impact of the sharp fall oil price to the economy of Bangladesh. In the study, there is seen negatively correlation with the oil price of the world and that of Bangladesh. This paper will be useful to the all stakeholders even policy makers to take proper initiatives for the adjustment of the plummeting oil price of the world. This present study may disseminate that the BPC, as the government-sponsored firm, cannot make the maximum profit as like the Monopoly Company in Bangladesh, so, the retail consumer may give the benefits of the adjustment with the sharp oil price fall in the world

Screening for cervical cancer (By VIA Test) among selected garments worker in Chattogram, Bangladesh

Background: Bangladesh is a densely populated country of South East Asia with low resource setting where cervical cancer is the 2nd leading cause of female cancer. In more than 80% cases are diagnosed at advanced and inoperable stage. Regarding socio demographic context of this country VIA has been introduced as a screening method for cervical cancer which is most simple, cost effective, and acceptable test for all women. In Bangladesh among 3 million garment workers more than 80% are women. The objective of this study was to identify prevalence of VIA positive cases among garment workers. So that it can reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in Bangladesh. Methods: It was a cross–sectional observational study conducted in some selected garment factories in Chattogram city of Bangladesh from January 2021 to July 2021, where we enrolled 534 female workers for VIA test. Results: Among all the respondents 56% were 30 years or younger, 38% were aged between 31 to 40 years. Among 534 participants, 44.9% completed primary education, 37.3% were smoker and 34.5% had their children at early age. Majority (86.7%) had excessive whitish discharge. Post coital bleeding and irregular bleeding was 2.6% and 2.2% respectively. Considering awareness, 61.8% had idea about cervical cancer, only 1.1% had undergone VIA test in the past. In our study we found 2.4% of participants were VIA positive cases. Conclusions: It is important to include the garment workers, while making public health policies and implementation of cervical cancer control program

Blockchain-Enabled Federated Learning Approach for Vehicular Networks

Data from interconnected vehicles may contain sensitive information such as location, driving behavior, personal identifiers, etc. Without adequate safeguards, sharing this data jeopardizes data privacy and system security. The current centralized data-sharing paradigm in these systems raises particular concerns about data privacy. Recognizing these challenges, the shift towards decentralized interactions in technology, as echoed by the principles of Industry 5.0, becomes paramount. This work is closely aligned with these principles, emphasizing decentralized, human-centric, and secure technological interactions in an interconnected vehicular ecosystem. To embody this, we propose a practical approach that merges two emerging technologies: Federated Learning (FL) and Blockchain. The integration of these technologies enables the creation of a decentralized vehicular network. In this setting, vehicles can learn from each other without compromising privacy while also ensuring data integrity and accountability. Initial experiments show that compared to conventional decentralized federated learning techniques, our proposed approach significantly enhances the performance and security of vehicular networks. The system's accuracy stands at 91.92\%. While this may appear to be low in comparison to state-of-the-art federated learning models, our work is noteworthy because, unlike others, it was achieved in a malicious vehicle setting. Despite the challenging environment, our method maintains high accuracy, making it a competent solution for preserving data privacy in vehicular networks.Comment: 7 page