A muon detection system (MUCH) based on a novel concept using a segmented and instrumented absorber has been designed for high-energy heavy-ion collision experiments. The system consists of 6 hadron ...absorber blocks and 6 tracking detector triplets. Behind each absorber block a detector triplet is located which measures the tracks of charged particles traversing the absorber. The performance of such a system has been simulated for the CBM experiment at FAIR (Germany) that is scheduled to start taking data in heavy ion collisions in the beam energy range of 6–45AGeV from 2019. The muon detection system is mounted downstream to a Silicon Tracking System (STS) that is located in a large aperture dipole magnet which provides momentum information of the charged particle tracks. The reconstructed tracks from the STS are to be matched to the hits measured by the muon detector triplets behind the absorber segments. This method allows the identification of muon tracks over a broad range of momenta including tracks of soft muons which do not pass through all the absorber layers. Pairs of oppositely charged muons identified by MUCH could therefore be combined to measure the invariant masses in a wide range starting from low mass vector mesons (LMVM) up to charmonia. The properties of the absorber (material, thickness, position) and of the tracking chambers (granularity, geometry) have been varied in simulations of heavy-ion collision events generated with the UrQMD generator and propagated through the setup using the GEANT3, the particle transport code. The tracks are reconstructed by a Cellular Automaton algorithm followed by a Kalman Filter. The simulations demonstrate that low mass vector mesons and charmonia can be clearly identified in central Au+Au collisions at beam energies provided by the international Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR).
Introduction
Patients with COVID‐19 often suffer from psychological problems such as post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and self‐stigmatization that may negatively impact their quality of life and ...sleep. This study examined mental health as a potential mediating factor linking self‐stigmatization and PTSD to quality of life and sleep.
Methods
Using a cross‐sectional design, 844 people who had recovered from COVID‐19 were called and interviewed. Data were collected using structured scales. Structural equation modeling was applied to assess fitness of a mediation model including self‐stigma and PTSD as independent factors and quality of life and insomnia as dependent variables.
Results
Mental health, COVID‐19‐related self‐stigma, and mental quality of life were associated. Insomnia, PTSD, and COVID‐19‐related self‐stigma displayed significant direct associations (r = .334 to 0.454; p < .01). A mediation model indicated satisfactory goodness of fit (CFI = 0.968, TLI = 0.950, SRMR = 0.071, RMSEA = 0.068). Mental health as a mediator had negative relationships with COVID‐19‐related self‐stigma, PTSD, and insomnia and positive associations with quality of life.
Conclusion
Mental health may mediate effects of COVID‐19‐related self‐stigma and PTSD on quality of life and insomnia. Designing programs to improve mental health among patients with COVID‐19 may include efforts to reduce negative effects of PTSD and COVID‐19‐related self‐stigma on quality of life and insomnia.
COVID‐19 may result in having post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and self‐stigma. COVID‐19 may induce mental health problems and insomnia. Mental health mediated the association between self‐stigma and insomnia. Mental health mediated the association between PTSD and insomnia.
While substantial progress has been made in improving water and sanitation services in low- and middle-income countries, aligned basic services such as greywater, stormwater, and solid waste ...management have progressed little in recent decades. Data was collected in Khulna city, Bangladesh via a household survey (n = 192) of low-income areas exploring domestic water use and greywater volumes, characteristics, and disposal practices. Most households (71%) use a piped water supply for domestic purposes, supplemented by seasonal rainwater harvesting (26%) and greywater use (13%). Of the total water used by households (mean: 594 L/household/day and equivalent to 116 L/person/day), approximately 58% becomes greywater through bathing, dishwashing, religious practices, handwashing, laundry, and mopping. Greywater produced ranges from 61-1274 L/household/day, with a mean of 345 L/household/day and equivalent to 78.4 L/person/day. Greywater characteristics vary depending on the activity, individual behaviours and any products used during cooking, bathing, or cleaning. After generation, households dispose greywater to open drains (67%), nearby waterbodies (17%) directly to the ground (9%), or decentralised wastewater treatment system (7%). Without services for greywater management, greywater disposal may have considerable public and environmental health implications, necessitating careful attention and oversight from service-providers and stakeholders beyond the household-level.
•This is the first study reporting household greywater management practices in low-income communities in Bangladesh•Most households (86%) use different water sources for consumptive (drinking) and non-consumptive purposes (other domestic activities)•Our study indicates a greywater return rate of 58%, comparable to the 60% reported in middle-class neighbourhoods in Dhaka•Personal hygiene, cleaning, and religious practices contribute 59%, 29% and 11% respectively to household greywater production•Over 90% of the greywater produced in Khulna is discharged untreated
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•Genetic diversity of Bemisia tabaci was determined in Bangladesh.•We identified four indigenous cryptic species but not MEAM1 and MED invasive cryptic species.•Asia I was abundant, ...both Asia II 1 and Asia II 5 were moderate, and Asia II 10 was found only in the central region.•Our study provides important information on the genetic diversity and geographic distribution of B. tabaci in Bangladesh.
Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is a species complex consisting of at least 40 cryptic species. Although the genetic diversity of B. tabaci has been studied in various regions, little is known about distribution in Bangladesh, which is covered by the Bengal delta, the largest delta on Earth. We conducted an extensive survey throughout the country and determined the nucleotide sequence of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) from 110 individuals. We then examined phylogenetic relationships. The results identified four cryptic species that expressed distinct interspecific variation but low intraspecific variation. Asia I was the most abundant, both Asia II 1 and Asia II 5 were moderately abundant, and Asia II 10 was found only in the central region. COI sequences of each cryptic species were distinctive and differentiated into many haplotypes. Our study provides important information to better understand the genetic diversity and geographic distribution of cryptic species in Bangladesh and nearby countries.
Upon biofilm formation, production of extracellular matrix components and alteration in physiology and metabolism allows bacteria to build up multicellular communities which can facilitate nutrient ...acquisition during unfavorable conditions and provide protection toward various forms of environmental stresses to individual cells. Thus, bacterial cells within biofilms become tolerant against antimicrobials and the immune system. In the present study, we evaluated the antibiofilm activity of the macrolides clarithromycin and azithromycin. Clarithromycin showed antibiofilm activity against rdar (red, dry, and rough) biofilm formation of the gastrointestinal pathogen
serovar Typhimurium ATCC 14028 (Nal
) at a 1.56 μM subinhibitory concentration in standing culture and dissolved cell aggregates at 15 μM in a microaerophilic environment, suggesting that the oxygen level affects the activity of the drug. Treatment with clarithromycin significantly decreased transcription and production of the rdar biofilm activator CsgD, with biofilm genes such as
and
to be concomitantly downregulated. Although
and other flagellar regulon genes were upregulated, apparent motility was downregulated. RNA sequencing showed a holistic cell response upon clarithromycin exposure, whereby not only genes involved in the biofilm-related regulatory pathways but also genes that likely contribute to intrinsic antimicrobial resistance, and the heat shock stress response were differentially regulated. Most significantly, clarithromycin exposure shifted the cells toward an apparent oxygen- and energy-depleted status, whereby the metabolism that channels into oxidative phosphorylation was downregulated, and energy gain by degradation of propane 1,2-diol, ethanolamine and l-arginine catabolism, potentially also to prevent cytosolic acidification, was upregulated. This analysis will allow the subsequent identification of novel intrinsic antimicrobial resistance determinants.
In Bangladesh, sweet potato holds the fourth position as a crucial carbohydrate source, trailing rice, wheat, and potato. However, locally grown sweet potato varieties often display limited stability ...and yield. To tackle this challenge, diverse selection methods and statistical models were utilized to pinpoint sweet potato genotypes showcasing both stability and superior yield and quality traits. In the initial two years, multiple selection methods were employed to narrow down the collections based on preferences for yield and its contributing traits. Subsequently, a multi-environment trial (MET) was conducted in the following year to pinpoint superior and stable genotypes with desirable yield and quality characteristics. An integrated approach involving the Multi-Trait Genotype Ideotype Distance Index (MGIDI), Factor Analysis and Ideotype-Design (FAI-BLUP), and Smith-Hazel Index (SH) led to the identification of 71 superior sweet potato genotypes out of a total of 351 in the initial growing season. In the subsequent season, the MGIDI selection index was applied to the 71 genotypes, resulting in the selection of 11 top-performing genotypes. This selection process was complemented by a detailed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the selected genotypes. In the MET, the mixed effect model, specifically the linear mixed model (LMM), identified significant genotypic and genotype-environment interaction (GEI) variances. This points to elevated heritability and selection accuracy, ultimately boosting the model's reliability. By combining the strengths of LMM and additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI), the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) index identified H20 as the top-performing genotype for marketable root yield (MRY), H37 for dry weight of root (DW), H8 for beta carotene (BC) and H41 for vitamin c (VC). These genotypes surpassed the overall average in the WAAS index. For simultaneous stability and high performance, the WAASBY index selected H37 for MRY, H6 for DW, H61 for BC, and H3 for VC. Finally, genotypes H3 and H20 were selected using multi-trait stability index (MTSI), as they possessed high performance and stability. Based on the selection sense, the objective has been achieved with regards to the trait MRW, which serves as a major criterion for a superior variety of sweet potato.
Objectives: Mortality and morbidity rate of low-birth-weight babies are major public health concerns worldwide. The main objective of this study was to determine the associated factors that are ...related to low birth weight.
Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out from January 2021 to December 2021 among 208 mothers who delivered babies in two tertiary level hospitals in Dhaka city. Data were collected by using a pretested semi-structured interview-guided questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS 23 version software.
Results: Significant associations were found between the low birth weight and some factors: babies delivered in rural areas (p=0.021), less educated mothers (p=0.018), and mothers having a low monthly income (p=0.007). Moreover, birth weight of the neonates was significantly associated with the number of antenatal visits (p=0.016) and intake of nutritional supplements by the mothers in last pregnancy (p=0.000). The mothers who took nutritional supplements in their last pregnancy had a lower proportion to deliver LBW (40%) that were significantly associated with nutritional status and birth weight (p=0.000). The mothers having low BMI had a higher rate of delivering LBW neonates (75%). A significant positive correlation was found between BMI of the mother and birth weight of the index child (r=0.243, p<0.001).
Conclusion: These study findings will guide us in paying special attention to the associated risk factors of low birth weight that will assist to formulate an intervention to prevent LBW by improving antenatal care and overall maternal health.
Antimicrobial resistance and tolerance are natural phenomena that arose due to evolutionary adaptation of microorganisms against various xenobiotic agents. These adaptation mechanisms make the ...current treatment options challenging as it is increasingly difficult to treat a broad range of infections, associated biofilm formation, intracellular and host adapted microbes, as well as persister cells and microbes in protected niches. Therefore, novel strategies are needed to identify the most promising drug targets to overcome the existing hurdles in the treatment of infectious diseases. Furthermore, discovery of novel drug candidates is also much needed, as few novel antimicrobial drugs have been introduced in the last two decades. In this review, we focus on the strategies that may help in the development of innovative small molecules which can interfere with microbial resistance mechanisms. We also highlight the recent advances in optimization of growth media which mimic host conditions and genome scale molecular analyses of microbial response against antimicrobial agents. Furthermore, we discuss the identification of antibiofilm molecules and their mechanisms of action in the light of the distinct physiology and metabolism of biofilm cells. This review thus provides the most recent advances in host mimicking growth media for effective drug discovery and development of antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents.
Background and Objective: Improving the health literacy in the different populations regarding COVID-19 may be useful in the control of its prevalence. This study examined the psychometric properties ...of a newly developed disease-specific measure of health literacy related to COVID-19 to be used as a standard measure. Materials and Methods: Relevant literature was reviewed to identify an item pool, and an expert panel was convened to choose items that might be included in the scale. Content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) was determined and face validity was examined by calculating the impact score in a group of social media users. The factor structure of the initial scale was examined in 590 Iranian individuals participating in online social networks in September 2020. Internal consistency of the scale was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest reliability of responses was measured by Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: A five-factor solution for the 51-items scale was obtained through exploratory factor analysis. The five main dimensions were understanding, communication, information seeking, analysis, and behavior. The dimensions explained 47% of the variance in scale scores. Participants whose scores fell in the high category (27%) were significantly different compared to those whose scores fell in the low category (27%) on all dimensions (p<0.001). The CVR values for all items were greater than 0.85 and all items also got CVI values higher than 0.79 based on nine-person expert panel. The Cronbach’s alpha for the overall scale was 0.89, and it was ranged from 0.71 to 0.90. Test-retest reliability for the scale was high (r=0.89). Conclusion: Health Literacy Scale for protect against COVID-19is a valid and reliable measure for Iranian population. This measure should be translated, and administered, in other settings to replicate the results obtained here.
The current study sought to identify factors that may affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients recovering from COVID-19 infection in Iran. In a cross-sectional study 258 patients ...diagnosed with COVID-19, participants completed a questionnaire approximately one month after hospital discharge when demographic and clinical factors (including insomnia) and HRQoL were assessed. A logistic regression was used. Age, gender, marital status, education, having child, early physician visit, early diagnosis, early hospitalization, symptom type, Rhesus factor, and level of insomnia were associated with various components of HRQoL (p<0.05). In multivariate analyses, poorer physical HRQoL was independently associated with female gender (OR=4.53; 95% CI=2.22-2.29), initial symptom of cough (OR=2.73; 95% CI=1.26-5.94), and insomnia (OR=2.74; 95% CI=1.22-6.14). Poorer mental HRQoL was associated with being age 40 years or older (OR=1.90; 95% CI=1.02-3.54), female gender (OR=2.48; 95% CI=1.26-4.88), initial symptom being cough (OR=3.12; 95% CI=1.46-6.68), and insomnia (sub-threshold insomnia, OR=3.19; 95% CI, 1.51-6.74, to severe insomnia, OR=3.86; 95% CI=1.35-11.07). Healthcare professionals should be aware that older people, female gender, those with initial symptom of cough, and insomnia may be at greater risk for poor quality of life following hospital discharge.
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