•This is the first study to investigate the mental health status of Bangladeshi medical students during COVID-19 pandemic.•The HADS anxiety subscale revealed that 65.9% of the medical students had ...different levels of anxiety.•As per HADS depression subscale, 49.9% of the medical students had varying degrees of depressive symptoms.•Female students had a relatively more anxiety and depressive symptoms, when compared with males.•The students, who were severely tensed of getting infected by the virus, were at higher risk of suffering from anxiety and depressive symptoms, when compared with no/minimally stressed students.
The most recent global pandemic of COVID-19 has been creating multidimensional damages, including a detrimental impact on the mental health status of individuals. Medical students, a vulnerable cross-section of the population, may have perceived a myriad of psychological stressors during this crisis in the background of their prevailing stressful academic pressure and preexisting higher psychological and mental health issue.
To determine the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms and to elucidate the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Bangladeshi medical students.
A cross-sectional study design was utilized to conduct this survey. The online survey including demographic questions, COVID-19 related questions, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS; higher scores on the subscales indicate higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms), was completed by 425 Bangladeshi medical students. Collected data were statistically analyzed by using SPSS (version 25.0) software.
The HADS anxiety subscale revealed that 65.9% of the medical students had different levels of anxiety, ranging from mild (27.3%), moderate (26.8%), and severe (11.8%). As per HADS depression subscale, 49.9% of the medical students had varying degrees of depressive symptoms, with 3.3% of the participants had suffered from severe depressive symptoms. Female students had a relatively more anxiety and depressive symptoms when compared with males. The students, who were severely tensed of getting infected by the virus, were at higher risk of suffering from anxiety (3.5-fold) and depressive (2.7-fold) symptoms, when compared with no/minimally stressed students. Besides, fear of getting assaulted or humiliated on the way to hospital or home, not to be able to give maximum concentration on study after COVID-19 pandemic, students’ present emotional status (agitation), had statistically significant higher risk of anxiety.
A substantial proportion of Bangladeshi medical students are experiencing pandemic-related adverse psychological impact. Poor mental health conditions of these vulnerable medical students pose important threat to their potential contribution in future health care. Thus, medical colleges and health authorities should focus on addressing their psychological needs and formulate effective strategies to ameliorate medical students’ mental health status, particularly during any infectious disease outbreak.
Biomedical applications of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticle are preferable among all kinds of ferrites due to the compatibility of Zn2+ ions for human bodies. We have followed the soft chemical route to ...synthesize chitosan and PEG coated ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles and also the chitosan-coated-nanoparticles encapsulated with liposome. X-ray diffraction studies by the Mo Kα target, showed the formation of single phase spinel structure. The lattice parameter turned out to be 8.48Å and grain size ∼4.8nm (±0.1nm). Similar particle size was observed by transmission electron microscope analysis. HRTEM studies showed the distinct lattice fringes thus confirming the good crystallinity of the synthesized nanoparticles. M–H curve at room temperature showed the prepared sample was superparamagnetic in nature, which is also confirmed by the doublets of Mössbauer spectroscopy. Relaxivity values (r2) of Chitosan and PEG coated ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles are 68 and 76mM−1s−1, respectively. In order to achieve further biocompatibility the chitosan-coated-nanoparticles were encapsulated with liposome. The r2 relaxivity was found as 54mM−1s−1. MR images obtained from the in vitro experiments based on phantoms demonstrated good contrast enhancement. Induction heating of bare and coated particles was investigated to reveal the self heating temperature rising properties of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles.
•Chitosan, PEG coated and liposome encapsulated ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles were developed.•T2 relaxivity of three solutions of ZnFe2O4 are 68, 76 and 59mM−1s1.•MR images of phantoms demonstrated contrast enhancement of the coated particles.•Particles were investigated for thermo therapeutic treatment of cancer.
Ischemic stroke is a devastating health problem, affecting approximately 800,000 patients in the US every year, making it the leading cause of combined death and disability in the country. Stroke has ...historically been thought of as predominantly impacting men, however it is becoming increasingly clear that stroke affects women to a greater degree than men. Indeed, women have worse outcomes compared to men following ischemic stroke. Recent clinical advances have shown great promise in acute stroke therapy, with the use of mechanical endovascular thrombectomy (with and without recombinant tissue plasminogen activator; rtPA) greatly improving outcomes. This observation makes it clear that removal of clots and reperfusion, either mechanically or pharmacologically, is critical for improving outcomes of patients following acute ischemic stroke. Despite these promising advances, long-term neurological sequelae persist in the post-stroke population. This review focuses on mechanisms of thrombosis (clot formation) as it pertains to stroke and important sex differences in thrombosis and responses to treatment. Finally, we describe recent data related to new therapeutic approaches to thrombolysis, with a particular focus on von Willebrand Factor (vWF).
Dysregulation of the blood brain barrier due to oxidative stress causes neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. We employed brain microvascular endothelial cells; to ...investigate the effects of P53 towards the lipid oxidation of the BBB. P53 reduction by LPS, siRNA for P53 and Pifithrin increased the expression levels of malondialdehyde, a marker of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, P53 suppression impaired the permeability of the BBB monolayers. In contrast, P53 induction by Nutlin and Hsp90 inhibitor AUY922 enhanced the BBB function. In conclusion, P53 supports BBB integrity, at least in part, by reducing lipid peroxidation.
During cryopreservation sperm encounter oxidative stress due to higher production of ROS molecules and insufficient natural antioxidant defence system. Therefore, present study was designed to ...identify the effects of various glutathione (GSH) concentrations on Indian red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus murghi) sperm quality and fertility pre-freezing and post-thaw incubation hours. Semen was collected from eight cocks and qualified semen ejaculates having motility >65% were pooled after initial evaluation. Semen was divided in four aliquots, diluted with red fowl extender (1:5) at 37 °C having GSH 0 mM (control), 0.1 mM, 0.5 mM and 1.0 mM, cryopreserved and stored at (−196 °C) in liquid nitrogen. Semen quality was assessed at post dilution, cooling, equilibration, and freeze-thawing at 0, 2 and 4 h of incubation at 37 °C. Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, viability, acrosome integrity and mitochondrial function were recorded highest (P < 0.05) with 0.5 mM GSH in extender at post-dilution, cooling, equilibration, freeze-thawing and 0, 2 and 4 h of incubation. Lipid peroxidation in sperm and seminal plasma were recorded lowest (P < 0.05) with 0.5 mM GSH during cryopreservation stages and post-thawing incubation. Moreover, antioxidant activities (total antioxidant potential and free radical scavenging capacity) were recorded highest (P < 0.05) in extender having 0.5 mM GSH. Fertility rates were recorded higher (P < 0.05) with 0.5 mM GSH compared to control. It is concluded that 0.5 mM GSH in extender improves sperm structural (sperm viability, plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity), functional integrity (motility, mitochondrial function) and fertility parameters of Indian red jungle fowl through enriching antioxidant potential and ameliorating the oxidative stress.
•Sperm encounter oxidative stress due to insufficient natural antioxidant defense system.•Glutathione (GSH) is naturally occurring antioxidant in avian semen.•GSH 0.5 mM supplementation improves antioxidant potential and ameliorate oxidative stress in semen.•GSH 0.5 mM supplementation in extender improves sperm quality, mitochondrial function and fertility parameters.
Droplets capture an environment-dictated equilibrium state of a liquid material. Equilibrium, however, often necessitates nanoscale interface organization, especially with formation of a passivating ...layer. Herein, we demonstrate that this kinetics-driven organization may predispose a material to autonomous thermal-oxidative composition inversion (TOCI) and texture reconfiguration under felicitous choice of trigger. We exploit inherent structural complexity, differential reactivity, and metastability of the ultrathin (∼0.7–3 nm) passivating oxide layer on eutectic gallium–indium (EGaIn, 75.5% Ga, 24.5% In w/w) core–shell particles to illustrate this approach to surface engineering. Two tiers of texture can be produced after ca. 15 min of heating, with the first evolution showing crumpling, while the second is a particulate growth above the first uniform texture. The formation of tier 1 texture occurs primarily because of diffusion-driven oxide buildup, which, as expected, increases stiffness of the oxide layer. The surface of this tier is rich in Ga, akin to the ambient formed passivating oxide. Tier 2 occurs at higher temperature because of thermally triggered fracture of the now thick and stiff oxide shell. This process leads to inversion in composition of the surface oxide due to higher In content on the tier 2 features. At higher temperatures (≥800 °C), significant changes in composition lead to solidification of the remaining material. Volume change upon oxidation and solidification leads to a hollow structure with a textured surface and faceted core. Controlled thermal treatment of liquid EGaIn therefore leads to tunable surface roughness, composition inversion, increased stiffness in the oxide shell, or a porous solid structure. We infer that this tunability is due to the structure of the passivating oxide layer that is driven by differences in reactivity of Ga and In and requisite enrichment of the less reactive component at the metal–oxide interface.
Crop production in acid soils is facing enormous challenges due to low soil quality associated with an increase in the acidification rate and aluminum toxicity. Despite comprehensive prior work with ...biochar application on nutrient availability and crop productivity in acid soils, little information is available about the recommendation or standardization of biochar application rates that are more suitable for soil fertility improvement under different soil environments (physico-chemical properties) for maximizing the benefits of biochar applications and minimizing the potential environmental risk. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of poultry litter (PL) and poultry litter biochar (PLB) in ameliorating the fertility of acid soils through incubation and pot experiments. The soil was amended with different materials as follows; lime (1 g kg−1), PL (5, 10 and 15 g kg−1) and PLB (5, 10 and 15 g kg−1) along with control (non-amended). A pot experiment was also conducted using similar treatments to observe the responses of maize crop to the different amendments. The results indicated an increase in the pH and a decrease in exchangeable acidity in lime, PL and PLB amended soils. Lower soil pH, base cations and soil available phosphorus (P), and higher exchangeable acidity were found in control than the amended soils. Compared to PL and lime, PLB achieved greater increase rate in soil pH and reduction rate in soil exchangeable acidity with increased soil exchangeable base cations. An increase in soil available calcium (Ca) was observed in the lime treatment, while in PL and PLB treatments, there was an increase in soil available Ca, magnesium (Mg), potassium (K) and P. Application of the amendments increased availability of nitrogen (N), P, K, Ca and Mg relative to the control for maize in the pot experiment. When PL and PLB amendments were compared, it was found that the PLB was the best choice for the amelioration of acid soils as well as nutrient uptake by maize plants. It is suggested that application of PLB at the rate of 15 g kg−1 is suitable for maize growth in acid soils.
•Poultry litter and its biochar impact soil acidity and maize growth.•Biochar decreased exchangeable acidity significantly in acid soils.•Incorporation of biochar with NPK fertilizer improved the maize growth under acidic soil condition.•Soil pH, exchangeable bases and exchangeable acidity were the main influential factors on maize growth.
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•Dhaka pumping is limiting access to safe drinking water in surrounding rural areas.•Large vertical hydraulic gradients were observed ∼30km away from pumping center.•Modeled vertical ...recharge between shallow and deep aquifers was 0.21m/yr.•Estimated vertical movement of high arsenic water from shallow aquifers is 2–5cm/yr.
Sandy aquifers deposited >12,000years ago, some as shallow as 30m, have provided a reliable supply of low-arsenic (As) drinking water in rural Bangladesh. This study concerns the potential risk of contaminating these aquifers in areas surrounding the city of Dhaka where hydraulic heads in aquifers >150m deep have dropped by 70m in a few decades due to municipal pumping. Water levels measured continuously from 2012 to 2014 in 12 deep (>150m), 3 intermediate (90–150m) and 6 shallow (<90m) community wells, 1 shallow private well, and 1 river piezometer show that the resulting drawdown cone extends 15–35km east of Dhaka. Water levels in 4 low-As community wells within the 62–147m depth range closest to Dhaka were inaccessible by suction for up to a third of the year. Lateral hydraulic gradients in the deep aquifer system ranged from 1.7×10−4 to 3.7×10−4 indicating flow towards Dhaka throughout 2012–2014. Vertical recharge on the edge of the drawdown cone was estimated at 0.21±0.06m/yr. The data suggest that continued municipal pumping in Dhaka could eventually contaminate some relatively shallow community wells.
The present study investigates the efficacy of dimehtlyformamide (DMF) as a permeable cryoprotectant and its effect on quality and fertility of Indian red jungle fowl sperm. Semen was collected from ...eight mature roosters, pooled, divided into five aliquots and diluted with red fowl extender having DMF (0%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%). Diluted semen samples were cooled from 37 °C to 4 °C, 20% glycerol added to control (0% DMF), equilibrated for 10 min and filled in 0.5 mL French straws, kept over liquid nitrogen vapors for 10 min and plunged into liquid nitrogen. Sperm motility, plasma membrane functionality, viability and acrosome integrity were assessed at post dilution, cooling, equilibration and freeze-thawing stage of cryopreservation. Cryopreservation stages had negative effects (P < 0.05) on semen quality parameters. Percentages of sperm motility, plasma membrane functionality, viability and acrosome integrity were recorded highest in extender having 8% DMF at post-dilution, cooling, equilibration and freeze-thawing stage. Fertility results after artificial insemination were recorded higher (P < 0.05) with 8% DMF compared to 20% glycerol. Dimehtlyformamide (8%) in red fowl extender improves the post thaw semen quality and fertility in Indian red jungle fowl and can be used effectively to avoid the contraceptive effects of glycerol.
•Effect of DMF on quality and fertility of Indian red jungle fowl sperm was studied.•Sperm motility, viability, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity were recorded higher with 8% DMF.•Sperm quality significantly descreased after freeze-thawing irrespective of experimental extenders.•Highest fertility was obtained with 8% DMF compared to 20% glycerol.•DMF (8%) improves the semen quality and fertility in Indian red jungle fowl.
The Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers converge in Bangladesh with an annual discharge second to the Amazon. Most of the flow occurs during the summer monsoon causing widespread flooding. The ...impounded water represents a large surface load whose effects can be observed in Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GPS data. Bangladesh is at the center of the second largest seasonal anomaly in the GRACE gravity field, reflecting water storage in Southeast Asia. Eighteen continuous GPS stations in Bangladesh record seasonal vertical motions up to 6 cm that inversely correlate to river level. We use 304 river gages to compute water height surfaces with a digital elevation model to separate surface water from groundwater. Porosity of 20% was used to estimate groundwater mass and calculate the water load. Results show ∼100 GT of water are stored in Bangladesh (7.5% of annual discharge) but can reach 150 GT during extreme events. The calculated water mass agrees with monthly GRACE water mass equivalents from Bangladesh within statistical limits. We compute the deformation due to this water load on an elastic half‐space, and we vary Young's modulus to fit GPS data from our two most continuous records. The water loading can account for >50% of the variance in the GPS data. The best fitting Young's modulus is 117–124 GPa for DHAK and 133–135 GPa for SUST, although the upper bound is not well constrained. These estimates lie between sediment (30–75 GPa) and mantle (190 GPa) values, indicating that response to loading is sensitive to structure throughout the lithosphere and is not absorbed by the weak sediments.
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