Showing papers by "Nazrul Islam published in 2018"

Nano/Mesoporous Carbon from Rice Starch for Voltammetric Detection of Ascorbic Acid.

Abstract: Rice starch (RS-)based nano/mesoporous carbon (RSNMC) was prepared via a hard-templating route using cheap rice starch as a carbon source. XRD and TEM characterization indicated the formation of organized nanoporous RSNMC. Nitrogen absorption–desorption studies revealed a high surface area of up to 488 m2∙g−1, uniform pore size of 3.92 nm, and pore volume of 1.14 cm3∙g−1. A RSNMC-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode was employed for the determination of ascorbic acid (AA) and exhibited a linear response in the concentration range of 0.005–6.0 mM with a detection limit of 0.003 mM. These results demonstrate that RSNMC has potential as an advanced and cheap electrode material for electrochemical sensing and other electrocatalytic applications.

Formulation and delivery strategies of ibuprofen: challenges and opportunities

Abstract: Ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is mostly administered orally and topically to relieve acute pain and fever. Due to its mode of action this drug may be useful in the treatment regimens of other, more chronic conditions, like cystic fibrosis. This drug is poorly soluble in aqueous media and thus the rate of dissolution from the currently available solid dosage forms is limited. This leads to poor bioavailability at high doses after oral administration, thereby increasing the risk of unwanted adverse effects. The poor solubility is a problem for developing injectable solution dosage forms. Because of its poor skin permeability, it is difficult to obtain an effective therapeutic concentration from topical preparations. This review aims to give a brief insight into the status of ibuprofen dosage forms and their limitations, particle/crystallization technologies for improving formulation strategies as well as suggesting its incorporation into the pulmonary drug delivery systems for achieving better therapeutic action at low dose.

Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus Treated With Punicalagin, a Natural Antibiotic From Pomegranate That Disrupts Iron Homeostasis and Induces SOS

Abstract: Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterial, food-borne pathogen of humans, can contaminate raw fruits and vegetables. While physical and chemical methods are available to control S. aureus, scientists are searching for inhibitory phytochemicals from plants. One promising compound from pomegranate is punicalagin, a natural antibiotic. To get a broader understanding of the inhibitory effect of punicalagin on S. aureus growth, high-throughput mass spectrometry and quantitative isobaric labeling was used to investigate the proteome of S. aureus after exposure to a sublethal dose of punicalagin. Nearly half of the proteins encoded by the small genome were interrogated, and nearly half of those exhibited significant changes in accumulation. Punicalagin treatment altered the accumulation of proteins and enzymes needed for iron acquisition, and it altered amounts of enzymes for glycolysis, citric acid cycling, protein biosynthesis, and purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis. Punicalagin treatment also induced an SOS cellular response to damaged DNA. Transcriptional comparison of marker genes shows that the punicalagin-induced iron starvation and SOS responses resembles those produced by EDTA and ciprofloxacin. These results show that punicalagin adversely alters bacterial growth by disrupting iron homeostasis and that it induces SOS, possibly through DNA biosynthesis inhibition.

Impact of Smartphone Addiction on Academic Performance of Business Students: A Case Study

Abstract: The development of telecom technology has a profound impact on the academic lives of the students. Smartphone usage became popular to young generation because of its educational and entertaining options by using the numerous applications. Among the young people, students are increasingly using Smartphone. But excessive Smartphone usage usually makes the students addicted to it and that impacts on user’s academic performance, daily activities, physical and mental health, withdrawal tendency, and social relationships. This study aims at identifying the factors that affect the level of Smartphone addiction to the students and its impact on their overall academic performance. A structured questionnaire has been developed to gather data from the students. A total of 247 questionnaires were collected from the business students of a private university of Bangladesh. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), data were analyzed. Results revealed five Smartphone addiction factors such as, positive anticipation, impatience, withdrawal, daily-life disturbance, and cyber friendship. Factors like increased impatience and daily-life disturbance were found significantly related to the academic performance of the business students of Bangladesh. This study suggests that the students should reduce the intense use of Smartphone for smoothly doing their daily-life activities.

Street Food Eating Habits in Bangladesh: A Study on Dhaka City

Abstract: There is a very high demand of the street foods in Dhaka city of Bangladesh. The reasons can be attributed by the tastes and varieties of foods, easily accessibility, low price, readily made, attraction to the foods, and above all, needs of the street people. Dhaka is the most populous city of Bangladesh. It is also the capital of the country. There are more than 18 million people, as of 2016 in Greater Dhaka city, living here in this city. It is also one of the most populated cities in the world with a density of 23,234 people per square kilometer within a total area of 300 square kilometers. Street food entrepreneurs are still unable to fulfill the demands of this huge population of this city. Due to the rise in income of the city dwellers, they are coming out from their congested houses to the parks and streets on the vacations and holidays and eating street foods. Sometimes, this is a fashion of the young people eating foods standing at the street. Although, a significant portion of these people think that the street foods are unhygienic and unhealthy even then they eat those foods when they are outside their houses. Therefore, this paper seeks to identify the reasons for which the street foods are eaten by the people living in Dhaka city. This study has been conducted among the people who eat street foods at their leisure time or vacations. To conduct this study, a total of 340 street food lovers were interviewed with the help of a structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Multivariate analysis techniques were used to identify the factors having influence on the habits of street food eaters in Dhaka city. The confirmatory factor analysis identified six factors such as, pleasure and soundness, convenience and variety, cost, attractiveness, food value, & taste and image. Results also show that the street food eating habit of the people of Dhaka City is significantly influenced by the pleasure and soundness, convenience and variety, cost, and attractiveness to the foods. This study suggests that the tastes and variety of street foods, accessibility, price and attractiveness should be emphasized to increase the attraction of the street food eaters towards the street foods in Dhaka City of Bangladesh.

Critical Factors for the Development of Women Entrepreneurship in Retail Business of Bangladesh

Abstract: Development of women entrepreneurship in the SME sector has a crucial importance in a developing country like Bangladesh where women constitute half of the total population. The majority of them are underprivileged, under nourished, illiterate and poor. Hence, the development of women entrepreneurship has tremendous potentials for transforming the society through socioeconomic empowerment of the women. This potential is remained untapped in Bangladesh because of lower number of women entrepreneurs in business and economic activities. According to the Bangladesh Economic Review 2009, around six percent of the country’s $90 billion economy comes from SMEs, which is also the largest sector in terms of employment generation. But the women entrepreneurs are less than ten percent of the total entrepreneurs of the country. However, in the recent years, women entrepreneurship in small retail businesses of the country has been increasing which is a good sign for the positive growth of the economy. Therefore, for the development of women entrepreneurship in retail business sector of Bangladesh, identification of critical factors is highly important. These factors can be classified into three types such as, regulative, normative, and cognitive factors. This paper aims at identifying the critical factors related to the development of women entrepreneurship in the retail business sector of Bangladesh. For identifying the factors, 218 women entrepreneurs of retail businesses were interviewed with a structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in this study. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to identify the relationships between the critical factors and the overall development of women entrepreneurship in the retail business of Bangladesh. The results show that for the development of retail business women entrepreneurs, regulative, normative and cognitive factors are important. Regulative factors such as rules and regulations of the Government and its implementation are critical significant factors for the development of retail business women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. This study suggests that the government and the policy making organizations should come forward to overcome of normative and cognitive barriers of the women entrepreneurship in the retail business of Bangladesh.

Business Intelligence and Analytics for Operational Efficiency

Abstract: Typically, business organizations hardly find proper information, processes, and tools need to make responsive decisions at all levels of their organizations. Organizations lack clear visibility and insights into the fundamental business situations even after spending heavily on technology, people skills and consultancy. Organizations continuously misunderstand the true story behind the numbers that is a reality that translates directly into a growing number of financial restatements and serious strategic missteps. Despite a generation of investment and efforts, financial analysis and reporting often lack the true standard. The reason might be attributed by the idea of leveraging business intelligence. This is primarily due to lack of awareness about the power of Business Intelligence and Analytics (BIA). The fact is that BIA should be an integral component of every operation of every business as it helps to identify its most profitable customers, trouble spots within the organization, and the return on investment for certain products or services. Hence, BIA is highly demanded by the organizations as it seeks to improve business outcomes, customer relationships, and operational efficiency by using information.

Making Digital Marketplaces Fairer

Abstract: Digital Marketplace is the online platform where all organizations can use to find and buy cloud based services. Businesses leverage digital channels such as, Google search, social media, email, and their websites to connect with their current and prospective customers. Digital Marketplace uses digital technologies, mainly on the Internet but also uses mobile phones, and other digital medium. Due to increase in use and rapid growth of digital marketplaces in the world, it became essential to establish regulatory measures and standards in order to protect the rights of the consumers for the regulatory bodies of any country. The expansion of this market is due to the consumer’s choice between a digital and a physical transaction which is governed by the (i) benefits of examining a good in person, (ii) the relative hassle costs between search online and offline, (iii) the benefit of instant product availability, (iv) differences in assortment, and (v) the barriers of regulations. In a world where digital devices are ubiquitous, transactions with not-in-person component, such as flight or hotel purchases, will naturally take place digitally. On the other hand, purchases like furniture, where examining goods in person is valuable that is impossible to check through online. The growth in digital transactions can be driven by innovation spurred by competition between the marketplaces. Digital marketplace also increases the competitiveness of peer sellers and enhances the assortment of options available to the consumers. Now, millions of consumers are involved around the world with these opportunities due to the rapid growth of internet, mobile phones and other digital technologies. However, along with the growth of online activities of the consumers, some serious challenges are created by which consumers are now often cheated and becoming the victims. Therefore, question has been raised from different corners regarding the fraud, deception, and sufferings of the innocent consumers all over the world through online transactions in digital marketplace.

Application of Labor Laws and Other Compliance in Readymade Garment Industry of Bangladesh

Abstract: Although, the economy of Bangladesh is primarily dependent on agriculture, Readymade Garment (RMG) industry has emerged as the largest earner of foreign income of Bangladesh in recent years. More than 75% of foreign earnings are coming from this very important sector of Bangladesh. Presently, more than four million workers are working in 4,500 RMG companies in which 90% are illiterate women came from the rural areas of Bangladesh (Islam & Muntaquimul Bari Chowdhuri, 2014). The policymakers and the employers of this sector claim that the growth of garment sector has helped employing a huge number of rural women that has subsequently developed their socioeconomic status in Bangladesh. But, it is a concern of the national and internal observers that the labor laws and other compliances like factory laws, industrial relations laws, employment laws, payment of wages laws, ILO standards, ethics applied in this sector are hardly followed by the RMG companies which are making the lives of these workers very difficult. Sometimes, these workers are exploited by employing more hours a day without the payment of overtime by capitalizing their illiteracy and submissiveness. Hence, this paper aims at identifying the level of application of the labor laws and other compliances in RMG industry of Bangladesh that is the only protective measures of this large number of female workers of this important sector of Bangladesh. A total of 238 workers of this sector were interviewed in this study with a structured questionnaire. Multivariate analysis techniques such as, Factor Analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis were used to analyze the data collected from the workers on the application of labor laws and other compliances of these companies. The results show that in case of measures for protecting sexual harassment there is a severe problem of the use of the labor laws in this sector followed by physical movement and access control of workers, exit and access path of the company, working hours, and counseling arrangements in the company. This study suggests that the readymade garment companies should address the sexual harassment issue seriously so that the workers will feel safe at their work. They also should focus more on the safety issues, working hours and counseling of the workers in order to make the working environment more favorable to the workers.

Factors Affecting Customers’ Experience in Mobile Banking of Bangladesh

Abstract: Bangladesh is a densely populated country of the world. More than 170 million people live in this country. Mobile banking is a very important and new phenomenon in Bangladesh. In recent years, mobile banking has got highest importance by the customers in the country as it provides immense scope for consumers for banking transactions at any time with the option to access bank’s facilities anywhere of the country. It is a subset of electronic banking, the use of which is increasing day by day in Bangladesh. Hence, this paper aims at indentifying the factors that influence the customer experience in mobile banking in Bangladesh. This study is based on a survey of 231 mobile banking customers of nine private commercial banks of Bangladesh. Literature review identified some factors related to mobile banking like convenient and responsive system, transaction speed and accuracy, reliability, transaction security in ATM booth and technological difficulty that affect customers’ experience in mobile banking systems etc. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the present situation of the mobile banking systems in Bangladesh. Inferential statistics like factor analysis, multiple regression analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were used to identify the relationships between the overall experience of the mobile banking customers and the specific factor(s) that affect customers experience in mobile banking. Results show that the convenient and responsive system, transaction security in ATM booth and technological difficulty are significant factors that affect the customers experience in mobile banking of Bangladesh. This study suggests that the policymakers should focus on the convenient and responsive system of mobile banking, transaction security in ATM booth and technological difficulty factors that affect customers experience in doing mobile banking for the improvement of the mobile banking services in Bangladesh.

The Relationship between CSR, PSQ and Behavioral Intentions of Hotel Customers in Bangladesh

Abstract: In recent years, hotel business became an important business in Bangladesh due to substantial increase of customers in this industry. The reasons can be attributed by the increase in health consciousness and social responsiveness of the customers. But the industry is not in a position to fulfill the demands of the customers. Hence, this study aims at examining the extent of corporate social responsibility (CSR) of the hotels that can influence perceived service quality (PSQ) and behavioral intentions of the customers in this industry of Bangladesh. In order to identify and measure the CSR activities, a quantitative approach has been applied, harnessing a survey questionnaire among the hotel customers in Bangladesh. Three hundred hotel customers from 45 hotels located in Dhaka were interviewed with a structured questionnaire. Data analysis has been performed by using Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The results of the study confirm that the CSR activities have significant and positive relationship with perceived service quality of the customers. Perceived service quality is also positively associated with the behavioral intentions of the hotel customers. Finally, CSR demonstrated a direct and positive relationship with the customers’ behavioral intentions in the hotel industry of Bangladesh.

Risk Assessment of Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Haemorrhage with Rockall Score In DMCH

Abstract: Introduction: Rockall score is used for risk assessment in acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage for intervention and prediction for risk of rebleeding and mortality. Methods: This is a cross sectional hospital based observational study carried out among patients presented with haematemesis with or without melaena in the department of Medicine, Dhaka Medical College Hospital from April, 2013 to March 2014 in one hundred consecutive cases. Rockall score done before and after endoscpy. Results: Patients mean age found 45.12±14.9 years with 4:1 male to female ratio. Service holder were (26.0%) and 91.0% were married. Almost half (48.0%) was educated. Combined haematemesis and melaena was presenting feature in 62.0% patients among them 72.0% arrived in hospital within 24 hours of onset. Comorbidity was found in 42.0% cases and 13% took NSAID. Oesophageal varix was found in 25.0%. No death observed in 18% haematemesis patients, one died from melaena (1 of 5) but most died (4 out of 5) from combined haematemesis and melaena. All the 5 death occurred in 89% rebleeding cases. No death observed in 34% patients having pre endoscopic Rockall Score d” 2; as well as in 44% cases post endoscopic Rockall score d”5 score. Mean duration Hospital stay was 6.36±4.5 days. Conclusions: Rockall score is useful in predicting outcomes in acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Bangladesh J Medicine Jan 2018; 29(1) : 13-25

An Unusual Cause of Generalized Swelling

Abstract: Amyloidosis and multiple myeloma are included in the same spectrum of clonal plasma cell disorder. Amyloidosis can present with localized deposits or manifest as systemic disease involving multiple organs such as kidney, heart, intestine. Free Ig subunits ,mostly light chains secreted by a single clone of B cells, are the cause of the most frequent and severe amyloidosis affecting the kidney. The incidence of AL amyloidosis is nine per 1 million populations per year. Amyloid deposists are found in approximately 10% of all patients with myeloma and in 20% of those with pure light chain myeloma[1].Here we are reporting a case who initially presented with generalized swelling and subsequently found to have AL amyloidosis involving multiple organs due to multiple myeloma.J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 26, No.2, October, 2017, Page 173-177

Working Conditions and Lives of Female Readymade Garment Workers in Bangladesh

Abstract: Readymade garment industry is the prime foreign earning industry of Bangladesh where more than 4.2 million workers are working of which 90% workers are female who come from the rural areas of the country. The working conditions and the working lives of these female workers are hardly up to the standard. The working lives of these female workers are substantially disturbed by the unfavorable working conditions that lead to job dissatisfaction, job insecurity, and low productivity of the workers. These are due to not maintaining government compliances by these readymade garment (RMG) companies. Therefore, a serious concern has been raised by the national and international community regarding the working conditions and the working lives of these female workers of Bangladesh. Therefore, this paper aims at identifying the working conditions and the working lives of female readymade garment workers of Bangladesh. For conducting this study, both primary and secondary data were collected. Primary data were collected by using a structured questionnaire. A total of 267 female workers were interviewed for this study. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the present working conditions of the female workers and inferential statistical were used to identify the relationships between the overall working conditions and the working lives of the female workers. Results show that the female readymade garment workers of Bangladesh work under the suppressive working environment. Female workers are always exploited by their managers and supervisors due to gender difference and submissiveness. Managers also misbehave with them by capitalizing their illiteracy and submissiveness. Female workers are often disturbed by the male colleagues too at work place and outside the factory. They do not have freedom at work and have no promotion at work. This study suggests that the policymakers of this sector of industry should follow the industrial laws and create a favorable working environment which will be favorable for the female workers to work in this sector.

Ureteric Endometriosis: a 39 Years Old Lady Presented with Cyclical Lower Abdominal Pain

Abstract: Abstract not available J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 27, No.1, April, 2018, Page 98-101

Service Requirements for the Aged in Bangladesh

Abstract: This paper attempts to identify the service requirements for the aged in Bangladesh. As aging is a matter of social concern, this study identifies the problems and limitations of the services provided for the aged. Secondary data were used to conduct this study. Findings show that being sympathized to the elders, some government and voluntary institutions are taking part to mitigate their sufferings that are mostly inadequate and cumbersome to the elders. This could be attributed by the disorganization of the services, social myths and prejudice, social structures, negative attitude towards the aged and value conflict. Expansion of community care services for the aged, social security programs, counseling, awareness campaign etc. are the few recommendations by which this problem could be addressed.