63 research outputs found

    Local Governance in Bangladesh: Policy and Strategy Framework

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    The author argued that the absence of a local governance policy is a priority governance problem in Bangladesh, which affects effective implementation of decentralisation policies and programmes sporadically undertaken from time to time. Democratic decentralisation in line with fiscal autonomy and local administrative reforms have been in limbo for over three decades. The absence of a clear policy affects institutional linkages of the local government bodies. In some cases overlapping of functions are evidenced in different local government institutions, while in other cases lack of coordination and inter-agency cooperation are also evident. More importantly, unless Bangladesh does develop an aggregated local governance policy, it will not have a vision and road map for development of local governance

    The ward sabha in Bangladesh – lessons from Kerala and West Bengal

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    Under the Local Government (Union Parishad) Act 2009, the legal provisions for ward sabha (ward councils) remain non-functional since implementation of the Act in 2011. This policy note attempts to outline the limitations of the Local Government (Union Parishad) Act 2009. The study also provides a few practical recommendations which may need further amendment of the relevant laws in Bangladesh. The amendment may also broaden the scope and activity of the ward sabha as a forum for promoting deliberative democracy. However, consideration should be given to reducing the role of the ward sabha as an executive agency as it is insufficiently resourced to perform the executive functions outlined in the 2009 Act; rather the immense potential of the ward sabha as a forum for wider deliberation across all the elected bodies should be exploited

    IoT Based Solar Powered Smart Waste Management System with Real Time Monitoring- An Advancement for Smart City Planning

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    In this paper, we proposed an IoT based solar-powered smart waste management system which is suitable for any kind city or town in both developed and developing countries that can ensure proper collection, transportation, and disposal of household and industrial waste with real-time remote monitoring. To maintain the green and clean environment around us, precise collection and disposal of garbage in a regular fashion are necessary. The primary goal of this research work is to provide a complete smart solution for waste collection and disposal hence ensuring a comfortable environment. The proposed system enables real-time remote monitoring of solar-powered several smart bins located in different points in the city which are connected to the control station through long-range (LoRa) communication device and also supervises the waste collector activities like collection and disposal time using Automated Vehicles Locating System (AVLS)

    Body mass index correlates positively with insulin resistance and secretion but inversely with insulin sensitivity in gestational diabetes

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    Background. To assess fasting C-peptide and insulinindices using homeostatic model assessment (HOMA)in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods. Gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 64, age:27.02 ± 0.53 years, BMI: 26.3 ± 0.5 kg/m2; mean ±SEM) and normal glucose tolerance NGT (n = 56, age:26.11 ± 0.55 years, BMI: 24.4 ± 0.4 kg/m2; mean ±SEM) screened according to WHO 2013 criteria. Glucosewas measured by oxidase method whereas fastinginsulin and C-peptide by ELISA. HOMA-IR, HOMA-B andHOMA-%S were calculated. Results. C-peptide was found higher in GDM comparedto NGT without any significant difference (P = 0.465).Fasting insulin (P = 0.063) and HOMA-IR (P < 0.001)were significantly higher while HOMA-B (P = 0.015)and HOMA-%S (P = 0.012) were significantly lower inGDM than those of NGT. BMI, bad obstetric history,multiparity and blood glucose were higher (P ≤ 0.05)in GDM while age, duration of gestation, family historyof DM did not differ (P = NS). C-peptide (0.185 ± 0.06vs 0.331 ± 0.44; P < 0.05), fasting insulin (4.88 ± 0.74vs 10.37 ± 0.74; P < 0.01) and HOMA-IR (1.04 ± 0.14 vs2.48 ± 0.18; P < 0.011) as well as HOMA-B were foundlower in GDM having BMI < 23 kg/m2 than those ofGDM with BMI ≥ 23. Conversely, HOMA-%S (115.52 ±14.63 vs 50.62 ± 3.39; P < 0.011) was higher in thesubgroup with BMI < 23 than the rest. Fasting bloodglucose (FBG) (P < 0.01) and fasting insulin (P < 0.05)were independent predictors for GDM. Conclusions. Fasting C-peptide did not differ betweenGDM and NGT. BMI was positively related with resistanceand secretion of insulin but inversely with sensitivity.HOMA model analyses revealed decreased insulinsensitivity and secretory capacity in GDM than NGT

    Accuracy of autonomic symptoms in detection of severe cardiac autonomic neuropathy

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    Autonomic neuropathy is a troublesome complication of diabetes mellitus often is not addressed by the physicians. The aim was to see the accuracy of autonomic symptoms in the detection of severe cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN). This study was done in BIRDEM in 62 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Cardiac autonomic neuropathy was detected clinically by heart rate and blood pressure change to maneuvers such as deep breathing, valsalva and standing. Eight symptoms of autonomic neuropathy, namely exercise intolerance, dizziness, dysphagia, abdominal bloating, constipa- tion, diarrhea, gustatory sweating and impotence were tested. In this study, impotence was the most common symptom (58%). There was no difference in the frequency of autonomic symptoms between severe and non-severe cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Taking clinical tests as gold standard, gustatory sweating had the highest specificity (96%) and constipation had the highest sensitivity (54.05%) in detection of severe cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Sensitivity increased to 78.37 when a constellation of symptoms were tested. Autonomic symptoms are common in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Collection of symptoms was associated with a high sensitivity for detection of severe cardiac autonomic neuropathy. BSMMU J 2022; 15(1): 11-1

    High-throughput characterization of fluid properties to predict droplet ejection for three-dimensional inkjet printing formulations

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    Inkjet printing has been used as an Additive Manufacturing (AM) method to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) structures. However, a lack of materials suitable for inkjet printing poses one of the key challenges that impedes industry from fully adopting this technology. Consequently, many industry sectors are required to spend significant time and resources on formulating new materials for an AM process, instead of focusing on product development. To achieve the spatially controlled deposition of a printed voxel in a predictable and repeatable fashion, a combination of the physical properties of the ‘ink’ material, print head design, and processing parameters is associated. This study demonstrates the expedited formulation of new inks through the adoption of a high-throughput screening (HTS) approach. Use of a liquid handler containing multi-pipette heads, to rapidly prepare inkjet formulations in a micro-array format, and subsequently measure the viscosity and surface tension for each in a high-throughput manner is reported. This automatic approach is estimated to be 15 times more rapid than conventional methods. The throughput is 96 formulations per 13.1 working hours, including sample preparation and subsequent printability determination. The HTS technique was validated by comparison with conventional viscosity and surface tension measurements, as well as the observation of droplet ejection during inkjet printing processes. Using this approach, a library of 96 acrylate/methacrylate materials was screened to identify the printability of each formulation at different processing temperatures. The methodology and the material database established using this HTS technique will allow academic and industrial users to rapidly select the most ideal formulation to deliver printability and a predicted processing window for a chosen application

    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

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    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

    Cluster-randomised controlled trials of individual and combined water, sanitation, hygiene and nutritional interventions in rural Bangladesh and Kenya: the WASH Benefits study design and rationale.

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    INTRODUCTION: Enteric infections are common during the first years of life in low-income countries and contribute to growth faltering with long-term impairment of health and development. Water quality, sanitation, handwashing and nutritional interventions can independently reduce enteric infections and growth faltering. There is little evidence that directly compares the effects of these individual and combined interventions on diarrhoea and growth when delivered to infants and young children. The objective of the WASH Benefits study is to help fill this knowledge gap. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: WASH Benefits includes two cluster-randomised trials to assess improvements in water quality, sanitation, handwashing and child nutrition-alone and in combination-to rural households with pregnant women in Kenya and Bangladesh. Geographically matched clusters (groups of household compounds in Bangladesh and villages in Kenya) will be randomised to one of six intervention arms or control. Intervention arms include water quality, sanitation, handwashing, nutrition, combined water+sanitation+handwashing (WSH) and WSH+nutrition. The studies will enrol newborn children (N=5760 in Bangladesh and N=8000 in Kenya) and measure outcomes at 12 and 24 months after intervention delivery. Primary outcomes include child length-for-age Z-scores and caregiver-reported diarrhoea. Secondary outcomes include stunting prevalence, markers of environmental enteropathy and child development scores (verbal, motor and personal/social). We will estimate unadjusted and adjusted intention-to-treat effects using semiparametric estimators and permutation tests. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Study protocols have been reviewed and approved by human subjects review boards at the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh, the Kenya Medical Research Institute, and Innovations for Poverty Action. Independent data safety monitoring boards in each country oversee the trials. This study is funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of California, Berkeley. REGISTRATION: Trial registration identifiers (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov): NCT01590095 (Bangladesh), NCT01704105 (Kenya)
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