Phase Shifts of the Circadian Locomotor Rhythm Induced by Pigment-Dispersing Factor in the Cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

Pigment-dispersing factors (PDFs) are octadeca-peptides widely distributed in insect optic lobes and brain. In this study, we have purified PDF and determined its amino acid sequence in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. Its primary structure was NSEIINSLLGLPKVLNDA-NH2, homologous to other PDH family members so far reported. When injected into the optic lobe of experimentally blinded adult male crickets, Gryllus-PDF induced phase shifts in their activity rhythms in a phase dependent and dose dependent manner. The resulted phase response curve (PRC) showed delays during the late subjective night to early subjective day and advances during the mid subjective day to mid subjective night. The PRC was different in shape from those for light, serotonin and temperature. These results suggest that PDF plays a role in phase regulation of the circadian clock through a separate pathway from those of other known phase regulating agents

Effectiveness of Social Safety Net Programs on Community Resilience to Hazard Vulnerable Population in Bangladesh

A number of Social Safety Net Programs (SSNPs) are the measures taken by the government of Bangladesh in order to reduce the portion of its population vulnerability to natural disaster. Bangladesh has a comprehensive portfolio of both food, cash and income generating technology based SSNPs. This study assessed the current status of SSNPs and its effectiveness in Bagerhat (cyclone and coastal flood prone) and Gaibandha (river flood prone) districts. Specially, the study depicted SSNPs within the view of natural hazards (climatic change impacts shocks, floods, cyclones and storm surges, flash floods, drought, tornadoes and landslides). This study showed that the organizational performance in the delivery of SSNPs as well as its technical guidance provided to task teams and program managers for identifying indicators of governance and service quality in the targeted SSNPs programs. This study identified that the governance issues along the results chain of service delivery and suggested policy and performance indicators for assessing the program had a significant impact of the outcome of the SSNPs.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v6i1.22052 J. Environ. Sci. &amp; Natural Resources, 6(1): 123-129 2013</jats:p

Impacts of Plough Pan on Physical and Chemical Properties of Soil

The experiment was carried out to find out the impacts of plough pan on physical and chemical properties of soil. For this purpose, soil samples were collected from two locations of Basail upazila in Tangail dristrict, one having compact plough pan layer in subsoil (site-1) and other one with no plough pan layer (site-2). A survey was also conducted on land use pattern in these areas to get the causes of plough pan formation. In site-1, rice is the dominant crop and in site-2 shallow rooted crops such as mustard, potato, onion etc. are grown. In site-1, organic C, N, K, S, Zn contents were found higher and the concentrations of C, N, K, P, S and Zn decreased from topsoil to lower layers, whereas, concentrations increased to subsoil layer except P in case of site-2.   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i1.11594   J. Environ. Sci. &amp; Natural Resources, 5(1): 289-294, 2012  </jats:p

Comparative Efficacy of Four Different Solid Phase Extraction Cartridges Used to Determine Tetracycline in Foods of Animal Origin

Four different types of Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) cartridges namely R-Biopharm (RB), Chromabond (CB), Isolute (IS) and Megabond (MB) were used in this study. Control and spiked samples of beef, chicken and shrimp were also used. Optical Density (OD) values of control and spiked samples were measured with the help of Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) reader. Percent binding values for each SPE cartridges were calculated using OD values of respective control and spiked samples. Based on % binding values a comparative study of 4 different Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) cartridges was carried out. Analysis of variance indicated no significant differences among the % binding values considering different samples irrespective of SPE cartridges (P=0.821266, F = 0.201279) or different SPE cartridges irrespective of samples (P = 0.168119, F = 2.180932). From this study, it can be recommended that any of the four SPE cartridges available in the working area can be used for the analysis of tetracycline from foods of animal origin.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v13i1.23727Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2015). 13 (1): 89-91</jats:p

The impending threat of an Influenza pandemic

No AbstractBangladesh J Med Microbiol 2007; 01 (01):1-3</jats:p

Phase Shifts of the Circadian Locomotor Rhythm Induced by Pigment-Dispersing Factor in the Cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

ABSTRACT -Pigment-dispersing factors (PDFs) are octadeca-peptides widely distributed in insect optic lobes and brain. In this study, we have purified PDF and determined its amino acid sequence in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus . Its primary structure was NSEIINSLLGLPKVLNDA-NH 2 , homologous to other PDH family members so far reported. When injected into the optic lobe of experimentally blinded adult male crickets, Gryllus -PDF induced phase shifts in their activity rhythms in a phase dependent and dose dependent manner. The resulted phase response curve (PRC) showed delays during the late subjective night to early subjective day and advances during the mid subjective day to mid subjective night. The PRC was different in shape from those for light, serotonin and temperature. These results suggest that PDF plays a role in phase regulation of the circadian clock through a separate pathway from those of other known phase regulating agents

Solid Waste Management Practice in Mymensingh Municipal Area, Bangladesh

The study was conducted to investigate the present solid waste management practice in Mymensingh municipal area especially in Ward 04 and 06. Huge solid wastes are generated every day in these wards but the waste management is not properly done because of their irregular waste management activities or unconsciousness. Maximum respondents discharged 1kg solid waste from their households per day and the respondents were 64%. Other 18% household discharged 0.5 kg and another 18% discharged 2 kg solid waste from their house per day. A majority percent of people dumps the produced solid waste in their living surroundings which produce various hazards in human health and environmental problems. This improper waste management can be managed by the regularity of management work, building awareness of the people and improving waste treatment. The municipality and other related NGOs should work together to solve these issues. It was revealed from the study that due to lack of people knowledge about solid waste management, lack of adequate budget for waste management, lack of available transport vehicles for waste management, lack of proper solid waste treatment plant etc. The total solid waste management system required following the recommendation which include proper planning, creating awareness, developing infrastructure, providing logistic support and finally involving NGOs, CBOs, public in this process. A sustainable solid waste management can be established which can lead the studied area to a healthy setting.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i2.14813 J. Environ. Sci. &amp; Natural Resources, 5(2): 193-198 2012</jats:p

Perception of Environmental Education and Awareness Among Mass People: A Case Study of Tangail District

At present environmental education is emerging across the globe although this is a quite new phenomenon in Bangladesh. The present study was attempted to know about the environmental education and awareness among the mass people of Tangail town. In order to conduct this research, a questionnaire survey was carried out and interview was undertaken among 100 respondents in Tangail District. This paper describes some findings to understand the status of environmental awareness among people of different age groups of Tangail district. Moreover, this paper enables to provide some suggestions to extend environmental education and awareness to make a decent and ethical life as well as to keep the environment sustainable.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i2.14828 J. Environ. Sci. &amp; Natural Resources, 5(2): 263-266 2012</jats:p

Drinking Water Quality at Academic Institutions of Tangail Municipality

An experiment was conducted to explore the drinking water quality at some selected academic institutions of Tangail municipality during the period of August to September, 2012. For this, an investigation was carried out to study the standard water quality parameters such as pH, EC, TDS, Pb, As, Fe and E. coli concentration of the five academic institutions. In general, there were no major differences found in pH, EC and TDS values among the studied stations and not exceeded the recommended thresholds. In case of heavy metal content, very trace amount of Arsenic (0.0071ppm) was recorded from all selected institutions. In contrast, average lead concentration (0.307xppm) was much higher than all acceptable standard limits and most risky position was taken by station-3 (0.46ppm). Similar to Pb, average Fe concentration (0.255ppm) was five times higher than the acceptable value of EU standard but not exceeded BD standard value. All the samples were E.Coli bacteria free.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v6i1.22074 J. Environ. Sci. &amp; Natural Resources, 6(1): 247-252 2013</jats:p