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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
Isolation, characterization, and quantification of microplastics and heavy metals from meconium, breast milk, and formula milk
(BRAC University, 2026-05) Sultana, Eshra; Jahan, Nushrat; Sara, Rownok Ara; Mysha, Sukanna; Deen, Nadia Sultana; Hossain, Mahboob; Department of Microbiology
Heavy metals (HMs) and microplastics (MPs) have become ubiquitous environmental pollutants that have detrimental effects on the health of mothers and newborns. In order to further comprehend early-life exposure pathways, this study aimed to identify, characterize, and quantify MPs and HMs in human breast milk and neonatal feces. Neonatal samples were collected and processed utilizing filtration, density separation, and standardized digesting methods designed for biological matrices. Raman spectroscopy was implemented to identify and characterize microplastics according to their shape, size distribution, and polymer type. Through the use of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), heavy metals that include lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) were identified. The findings demonstrated that a variety of microplastic particles, notably fibers and pieces, were present. These particles ranged from 0.01 mm to 0.22 mm in breast milk and from 0.1 mm to 1.48 mm in neonatal feces, reflecting maternal transfer and early postnatal exposure. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were discovered to be the most common polymers. Although heavy metal concentrations fluctuated between samples, with higher quantities frequently encountered in neonatal feces, suggesting potential accumulation or additional environmental inputs. These outcomes showcase the early-life existence of toxic metals and microplastics in maternal and neonatal biological systems and emphasize the need for increased monitoring, exposure-reduction measures, and additional research into possible health effects during crucial developmental stages.
Age-related risk factors and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis
(Pacini Editore S.p.A./AU-CNS, 2021-07-01) Rahman, Mohammad Meshbahur; Bhattacharjee, Badhan; Farhana, Zaki; Hamiduzzaman, Mohammad; Chowdhury, Muhammad Abdul Baker; Hossain, Mohammad Sorowar; Siddiqee, Mahbubul H.; Islam, Ziaul; Raheem, Enayetur; Uddin, Jamal; Department of Biotechnology
Objectives. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of reported symptoms and comorbidities, and investigate the factors associated with age of the SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Methods. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration: CRD42020182677) where the databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, WHO, Semantic Scholar, and COVID-19 Primer) were searched for clinical studies published from January to April, 2020. Initially, the pooled prevalence of symptoms and comorbidity of COVID-19 patients were estimated using random effect model and the age –related factors were identified performing multivariate analysis [factor analysis]. Results. Twenty-nine articles with 4,884 COVID-19 patients were included in this study. Altogether, we found 33 symptoms and 44 comorbidities where the most frequent 19 symptoms and 11 comorbidities were included in the meta-analysis. The fever (84%), cough/dry cough (61%), and fatigue/weakness (42%) were found more prevalent while acute respiratory distress syndrome, hypertension and diabetes were the most prevalent comorbid condition. The factor analysis showed positive association between a cluster of symptoms and comorbidities with patients’ age. The symptoms comprising fever, dyspnea/shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, anorexia and pharyngalgia; and the comorbidities including diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, COPD/lung disease and ARDS were the factors positively associated with COVID-19 patient’s age. Conclusion. As an unique effort, this study found a group of symptoms (fever, dyspnea/shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, anorexia and pharyngalgia) and comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, COPD/lung disease and ARDS), associated with the age of COVID-19 infected patients. © Copyright by Pacini Editore Srl, Pisa, Italy.
Food insecurity and conflict events in Africa
(Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2018-01-01) Murshed, Syed Mansoob; Badiuzzaman, Muhammad; Hasan, Rashel; Centre for Peace and Justice
The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between food insecurity and conflict events short of war in Africa, taking account of a host of mediating factors, including the degree of inequality, the level of development, democratic quality, quality of governance and the degree of government expenditure, which we incorporate into our analysis. Our results suggest that food price volatility does contribute significantly to conflict events measured by political events in Africa (ACLED). Greater democracy can engender more conflict, but in a non-linear fashion. The broader V-DEM participatory index of democracy also encourages more protest. Our governance variables are significant, emphasising the salience of state capacity in this regard. An innovation of our study is the inclusion of inequality. We deploy two metrics of vertical inequality: the GINI coefficient and the broader V-DEM egalitarian index. The GINI index of income inequality has a counter-intuitive statistically insignificant sign, suggesting that greater income equality or middle-class share of income results in greater political unrest. We also utilise political measures of inter-group horizontal inequality which significantly engender conflict risk. © 2018 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.
Is there a linkage between sustainable development and market access of LDCs?
(De Gruyter, 2013-10-01) Tania, Sharmin Jahan; School of Law
This article revisits the decades-long trade-sustainable development debate in the context of Rio+20 and its endorsement of green economy policy. It aims to grapple with the possible linkages between LDCs' market access regime and the concept of sustainable development itself. Conflicting perceptions of developed and least developed country (LDC) members of the WTO as to the conceptual basis of sustainable development, this article argues, explain the challenges LDCs face in the form of impediments to their market access. By examining the specific market access issues, this article reveals how developed countries' concerns for sustainable development turn out to be market access barriers for LDCs. As the call for transition to green economy could exacerbate some of these concerns of LDCs, the article suggests a common ground, where a balanced trading regime can be most productively envisioned through a reasoned discourse of market access for LDCs linked with a conceptual route of sustainable development.
Islamic social finance in Bangladesh: Challenges and opportunities of the institutional and regulatory landscape
(De Gruyter, 2020-01-01) Uddin, Tanvir Ahmed; Mohiuddin, Md Fazla; BRAC Business School
From the end of World War Two, the core methodology of law and development projects has been to transplant the best legal institutions of Western capitalism to poor and emerging economies. In many post-colonial contemporary Muslim-majority countries, such programs have not adequately engaged with local legal systems, cultures and traditions. Contrary to the restrictive modernist approach to law and development, and inspired by the Sharia, there are numerous Islamic social finance mechanisms that can be utilised for poverty alleviation and their existence is evident across Bangladesh. These cover the full spectrum of philanthropic to financing, investments and insurance built upon Sharia norms and principles. Unfortunately, the true potential of Islamic social finance is considerably constrained by the weak regulatory and policy environment. Islamic social finance does not feature in national development plans, is regulated through a patchwork framework, and operates at a negligible scale. This paper provides a detailed analysis of the existing regulatory and institutional landscape of Zakah (obligatory almsgiving), awqaf (perpetual endowments), Islamic microfinance and microtakaful (microinsurance) in Bangladesh and examines the potential and challenges for Islamic social finance to reduce poverty. Thereafter, several pertinent policy and institutional recommendations are provided to effectively modernise and advance the effectiveness of Islamic social finance institutions. The methodology employed is a mixed approach incorporating literature review, legal analysis of laws and regulation and contextual analysis and field interviews among industry stakeholders. Ultimately, while private investment and initiatives are always able to support the Islamic social finance sector, this paper focuses on the extent to which the regulatory and policy environment is a crucial enabler for widespread and sustained development impact. © 2020 Law and Development Review.