Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel evolutionary divergent RNA virus, is responsible for the present devastating COVID-19 pandemic. To explore the genomic ...signatures, we comprehensively analyzed 2,492 complete and/or near-complete genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 strains reported from across the globe to the GISAID database up to 30 March 2020. Genome-wide annotations revealed 1,516 nucleotide-level variations at different positions throughout the entire genome of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, nucleotide (nt) deletion analysis found twelve deletion sites throughout the genome other than previously reported deletions at coding sequence of the ORF8 (open reading frame), spike, and ORF7a proteins, specifically in polyprotein ORF1ab (n = 9), ORF10 (n = 1), and 3´-UTR (n = 2). Evidence from the systematic gene-level mutational and protein profile analyses revealed a large number of amino acid (aa) substitutions (n = 744), demonstrating the viral proteins heterogeneous. Notably, residues of receptor-binding domain (RBD) showing crucial interactions with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and cross-reacting neutralizing antibody were found to be conserved among the analyzed virus strains, except for replacement of lysine with arginine at 378th position of the cryptic epitope of a Shanghai isolate, hCoV-19/Shanghai/SH0007/2020 (EPI_ISL_416320). Furthermore, our results of the preliminary epidemiological data on SARS-CoV-2 infections revealed that frequency of aa mutations were relatively higher in the SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences of Europe (43.07%) followed by Asia (38.09%), and North America (29.64%) while case fatality rates remained higher in the European temperate countries, such as Italy, Spain, Netherlands, France, England and Belgium. Thus, the present method of genome annotation employed at this early pandemic stage could be a promising tool for monitoring and tracking the continuously evolving pandemic situation, the associated genetic variants, and their implications for the development of effective control and prophylaxis strategies.
Viability plays an important role in the beneficial microbes (probiotics) to produce health benefits. However, this idea has been changed after the invention of the term "paraprobiotics," indicating ...that non-viable microbes could produce health benefits similar to those produced by live probiotics. Occasionally, it might be dangerous to administer live probiotics to people with weak immunity. In such cases, ingestion of paraprobiotics could be a potential alternative. The definition of paraprobiotics refers to the use of inactivated (non-viable) microbial cells or cell fractions to provide health benefits to the consumer. Paraprobiotics have attracted much attention because of their long shelf life, safety, and beneficial effects, such as modulation of immunity, modification of biological responses, reduction of cholesterol, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative properties. These features indicate that paraprobiotics may play a vital role in improving the health of the consumer by enhancing particular physiological functions, even though the exact underlying mechanisms have not yet been completely elucidated. In this mini-review, we briefly discuss the historical backgrounds of paraprobiotics and evidence of their health-promoting effects, prophylactic, and therapeutic properties.
The study attempts to examine the relationship among revenue growth factors from different angles and provides a comprehensive overview of tax revenue collection for developing countries. The impact ...of income tax, customs duty, and value-added tax on the gross domestic product is examined using the ordinary least-square (OLS) multiple regression approach. To confirm the association, a multiple regression model is applied to time-series data. SPSS software, MS Excel, is used to draw the empirical results, trend analysis, and some graphical presentation to reach the study's objective. The findings show that while the value-added tax has a significant impact and the highest coefficient, regardless of country, income tax and customs duty may or may not be significant depending on the circumstances. It triggers effectual and efficacious economic growth. The paper has implications in policy-making areas where governments are seeking how to stimulate revenue growth effectively and efficiently. To promote economic growth, the tax net and tax rate on luxury goods should be increased along with human resources in the tax administration for the short term. But in the long term, decentralization & digitization of tax administration, dismantling the existing tax barriers and good governance are necessary.
This study examines the impact of COVID-19 related ‘stay-at-home’ restrictions on food prices in 31 European countries. I combine the European Union’s Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) with ...the Stay-at-Home Restriction Index (SHRI) from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT) dataset for January–May 2020. The results of a series of difference-in-difference regression models reveal that the severity of stay-at-home restrictions increased overall food prices by 1% in March 2020, compared to January and February 2020. The price level for food continued to rise in the high stay-at-home restriction countries relative to thier counterpart in April but stabilised in May. The food categories that witnessed the most significant surges in prices were meat, fish & seafood, and vegetables. The prices of bread & cereals, fruits, milk, cheese & eggs and oils & fats were not significantly affected. The correlations between food prices and stay-at-home restrictions were significant after controlling for cross-country variations in COVID-19 affectedness and other mitigation and adaptation measures, such as international travel controls, road closures and the size of the economic stimulus packages. This study presents the first empirical evidence of food price inflation as an unintended consequence of COVID-19 pandemic containment measures in one of the most severely hit continents of the world.
Purpose: This study is designed to investigate the extent and nature of climate change disclosure of listed pharmaceutical companies of Bangladesh. Research design, data and methodology: In order to ...perform this research, a content analysis methodology is used. A climate change disclosure index is constructed to examine 12 different climate change disclosure issues. Information is collected from the annual reports of 29 pharmaceutical companies listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange for the year 2019. Results: This study finds that only 48.28% of the sample companies provided disclosure on at least one issue regarding climate change. 'Energy savings' is the mostly disclosed issue whereas 'Pollution control expenditure', 'Biodiversity conservation initiatives' are the least disclosed issues. Research implication: This study concludes 64.29% of the companies examined, use less than five sentences for climate change disclosure, which depicts unsatisfactory disclosure practices regarding climate change issues. Study findings would be helpful for different industries of Bangladesh to implement efficient climate change reporting Practice. Future studies can be conducted on other industries to obtain more comprehensive result.
Although Bangladesh has made significant progress in reducing child mortality, proper utilization of health services for under-five children among mothers remains one of the major challenges. Hence, ...this study was designed to investigate the factors influencing health service utilization among mothers for under-five children in the Khulna district of Bangladesh. Administering a semi-structured interview schedule, data were collected from 364 randomly selected mothers from the study area between June and August 2021. At first, Pearson's Chi-square test was conducted to measure the association between outcome and predictor variables. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with utilization of health services. Overall, about 59 percent of the mother received health services from unqualified doctors during their children's illness and the rest of them (41.5%) seek care from the qualified doctors. Results of regression analysis revealed that long duration of illness (AOR = 2.338; CI: 1.175-4.649; p = 0.015), the severity of illness (AOR = 6.402; CI: 3.275-12.513; p<0.001), and higher cost of treatment (AOR = 7.371; CI: 3.297-16.480; p<0.001) were the significant predictors of utilization of health services from the qualified doctors for under-five children. Thus, the study suggests that to reduce under-five child mortality by ensuring proper utilization of health services, it is necessary to raise awareness among mothers, improve transport facilities, establish need-based health care centers, and lower treatment costs.
Aim
To explore and provide understanding of the barriers to quality of work life among registered nurses in Bangladesh.
Background
Globally, there is growing interest in the working environments of ...nurses, especially at a time of nursing shortages and with the focus on safety and care quality in health systems. In a low socio‐economic country like Bangladesh, nurses struggle in a grossly underfunded healthcare system to deliver care to the people but no studies have been conducted on their quality of work life.
Methods
This qualitative descriptive study was conducted at three Bangladeshi tertiary hospitals in May 2015–January 2016. Three focus group discussions were held with 30 registered nurses exploring their perceived barriers to quality of work life. Data were analysed with content analysis.
Findings
Seven barriers to their work‐life arose: heavy workloads; lack of government accommodation and transportation; poor health status; lack of support from nursing supervisors; lack of promotion opportunities; incomplete hospital policies and procedures; and lack of night shift and risk allowances.
Discussion
Participants described many issues and barriers impacting on their work‐life. They perceived little reward for their hard work, felt that their health suffered from their working conditions and described a low QWL.
Conclusion and policy implications
Findings provide information for nursing and health policymakers and leaders to reduce barriers to improve work‐life quality among nurses that can contribute better to quality of nursing care, and nursing retention and satisfaction. Work policies and practices, and funding and other resources need to be scrutinized to ensure better working conditions for Bangladeshi nurses.
Limitations
Interviews were conducted with nurses only in tertiary hospitals in the Bangladeshi capital, and understanding of barriers to work‐life quality of nurses in other health settings and regions needs to be explored.
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