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Faculty members and students are invited to submit their research publications, theses, dissertations, and scholarly works to increase visibility, access, and long-term preservation.

Recent Submissions

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Open Access
Practice of using gifts as promotional materials for marketing of pharmaceutical products in Bangladesh: A survey conducted on general physicians and representatives from pharmaceutical companies
(Stamford University, 2011-01-01) Sultana, Saki; Khosru K.H.; Department of Pharmacy
The present study was undertaken to find out the promotional strategies followed by the pharmaceutical companies, attitudes and responses of physicians towards these promotional activities and influence of using gifts as promotional materials on the prescribing behavior of the physicians. In the study we found that most pharmaceutical companies believe that pharmaceuticals should be promoted by their quality and availability, not by any other promotional strategies. 84.62% pharmaceutical companies believe that gifts provided by them motivate the physicians to prescribe their products whereas 87% physicians admit that they consider the image of the company and quality of the product while prescribing. We also found that 50.5% physicians preferred information more rather than attractive gifts but only 11.77% pharmaceutical companies agreed with this statement.
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Open Access
Transgenic crops targeting ion homeostasis machinery: Bangladesh perspective for adaptation to climate change to ensure food security
(Bangladesh Association for Plant Tissue, 2017-12-01) Datta, Anamika; Chowdhury, Mashiat Nawar; Islam, Aparna; Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Salinity stress is one of the major adversarial impacts of climate change that limits crop productivity worldwide, especially in developing countries. To overcome this situation it is necessary to understand the cellular basis of salt stress tolerance mechanisms. Various genes involved in ion exclusion, osmotic tolerance, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) scavenging and other regulation mechanisms influence salinity tolerance in crops. Function of these candidate genes/sequences may vary in different plants and within different tissues. For the last two decades, in Bangladesh several approaches have been taken to develop transgenic rice, the staple crop. Work is in progress to monitor stable incorporation of these transgenes. Further evaluation is needed to check their adaptation/resistance in natural environments. Good performance in field conditions will lead to acceptance of these varieties for commercial productions in order to ensure food security.
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Open Access
Micropropagation of environmental stress tolerant local potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties of Bangladesh
(Bangladesh Association for Plant Tissue, 2014-01-01) Parveen, Fazlima; Khatun, Mahmuda; Islam, Aparna; Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
In vitro response of four explants namely, leaf, shoot apex, nodal and internodal, in three stress tolerant Bangladeshi potato varieties, viz. Zaubilati, Shadaguti and Challisha were tested. Of all the varieties, Shadaguti responded best for all the explants. Among the explants nodal segment responded best, followed by shoot apex. For all these explants and varieties, shoot regeneration response was tested in response to two cytokines, BAP and Kn. When compared between BAP and Kn supplementation, Kn treatment performed better than that of BAP for nodal and shoot apex, while opposite was observed for remaining explants. Interestingly, hormone free basal PROP medium was found to be best for nodal explants of both Zaubilati and Challisha varieties. While nodal explants of Shadaguti showed the best result in 0.5 mg/l Kn. Shoot apex performed best in 0.5 mg/l Kn for all the varieties. As an explant both internode and leaf did not perform well. Direct regeneration from these explants was found best in PROP + 0.2 mg/l GA3 + 0.5 mg/l IAA; 1.0 mg/l BAP, 1.5 mg/l BAP and 2.0 mg/l BAP for Zaubilai, Challisha and Shadaguti, respectively. For rooting, of the in vitro grown shoots half strength of PROP medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l IBA was found to be best. Cent percent survival of transplanted plantlets was recorded. The successful protocol for in vitro regeneration was developed which can be used for large scale production of these abiotic stress tolerant potato varieties.
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Open Access
A review on the causative agents, risk factors and management of ventilator-associated Pneumonia: South Asian perspective
(Bangladesh Society of Medicine, 2022-07-24) Ahmed, Akash; Naboni, Nahian Sanjida; Nowshen, Afia; Sultana S.; Haque, Fahim; Hossain, M. Mahboob; Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is common hospital-acquired pneumonia in ICU patients. Patients with pneumonia after 48 hours of mechanical ventilation are VAP affected. INICC found that VAP rates between 2012 to 2017 are 14.1 per 1000 episodes.The most common pathogens include Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Developing countries seem to have a higher mortality rate compared to developed countries. Treatment protocol involves antibiotic therapy. For the early onset of VAP, cephalosporin (cefotaxime or ceftriaxone), fluoroquinolone, or piperacillin-tazobactam are found to be effective while for late-onset, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, meropenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam seems to have positive results. Apart from antibiotics, other options like bacteriophage therapy can offer a good alternative to fight the rapid emergence of MDR pathogens.
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Open Access
Internalized HIV/AIDS-related stigma in a sample of HIV-positive people in Bangladesh
(International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, 2012-01-01) Hasan, Md. Tanvir; Nath S.R.; Khan, Nabilah S.; Akram O.; Gomes T.M.; Rashid, Sabina F.; BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health
Internalized stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) is prevalent in Bangladesh. A better understanding of the effects of stigma on PLHA is required to reduce this and to minimize its harmful effects. This study employed a quantitative approach by conducting a survey with an aim to know the prevalence of internalized stigma and to identify the factors associated with internalized stigma among a sample of 238 PLHA (male=152 and female=86) in Bangladesh. The findings suggest that there is a significant difference between groups with the low- and the high-internalized HIV/AIDS stigma in terms of both age and gender. The prevalence of internalized stigma varied according to the poverty status of PLHA. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) found 10 of 15 items loaded highly on the three factors labelled self-acceptance, self-exclusion, and social withdrawal. About 68% of the PLHA felt ashamed, and 54% felt guilty because of their HIV status. More than half (87.5% male and 19.8% female) of the PLHA blamed themselves for their HIV status while many of them (38.2% male and 8.1% female) felt that they should be punished. The male PLHA more frequently chose to withdraw themselves from family and social gatherings compared to the female PLHA. They also experienced a higher level of internalized stigma compared to the female PLHA. The results suggest that the prevalence of internalized stigma is high in Bangladesh, and much needs to be done by different organizations working for and with the PLHA to reduce internalized stigma among this vulnerable group.