Search Results (78)

Land use and land cover (LULC) in Northern Bangladesh have undergone substantial transformations due to both anthropogenic and natural drivers. This study examines historical LULC changes (1990–2022) and projects future trends for 2030 and 2054 using remote sensing and the Cellular Automata-Artificial Neural Network (CA-ANN) model. Multi-temporal Landsat imagery was classified with 80.75–86.23% accuracy (Kappa: 0.75–0.81). Model validation comparing simulated and actual 2014 data yielded 79.98% accuracy, indicating a reasonably good performance given the region’s rapidly evolving and heterogeneous landscape. The results reveal a significant decline in waterbodies, which is projected to shrink by 34.4% by 2054, alongside a 1.21% reduction in cropland raising serious environmental and food security concerns. Vegetation, after an initial massive decrease (1990–2014), increased (2014–2022) due to different forms of agroforestry practices and is expected to increase by 4.64% by 2054. While the model demonstrated fair predictive power, its moderate accuracy highlights challenges in forecasting LULC in areas characterized by informal urbanization, seasonal land shifts, and riverbank erosion. These dynamics limit prediction reliability and reflect the region’s ecological vulnerability. The findings call for urgent policy action particularly afforestation, water resource management, and integrated land use planning to ensure environmental sustainability and resilience in this climate-sensitive area. Full article

Background: Shirakiopsis indica (Willd.) (Family: Euphorbiaceae), a mangrove species found in the Asian region, is a popular folkloric plant. Locally, the plant is traditionally used to treat various types of ailments, especially for pain relief. Therefore, the current study investigates the neuropharmacological, antipyretic, thrombolytic, and anthelmintic properties of the S. indica fruit methanolic extract (SIF-ME). Methods: The neuropharmacological activity was evaluated using several bioactive assays, and the antipyretic effect was investigated using the yeast-induced pyrexia method, both in Swiss albino mice models. Human blood clot lysis was employed to assess thrombolytic activity, while in vitro anthelmintic characteristics were tested on Tubifex tubifex. Insights into phytochemicals from SIF-ME have also been reported from a literature review, which were further subjected to molecular docking, pass prediction, and ADME/T analysis and validated the wet-lab outcomes. Results: In the elevated plus maze test, SIF-ME at 400 mg/kg demonstrated significant anxiolytic effects (200.16 ± 1.76 s in the open arms, p < 0.001). SIF-ME-treated mice exhibited increased head dipping behavior and spent a longer time in the light box, confirming strong anxiolytic activity in the hole board and light–dark box tests, respectively. It (400 mg/kg) also significantly reduced depressive behavior during forced swimming and tail suspension tests (98.2 ± 3.83 s and 126.33 ± 1.20 s, respectively). The extract induced strong locomotor activity, causing mice’s mobility to gradually decrease over time in the open field and hole cross tests. The antipyretic effect of SIF-ME (400 mg/kg) was minimal using the yeast-induced pyrexia method, while it (100 μg/mL) killed T. tubifex in 69.33 ± 2.51 min, indicating a substantial anthelmintic action. SIF-ME significantly reduced blood clots by 67.74% (p < 0.001), compared to the control group’s 5.56%. The above findings have also been predicted by in silico molecular docking studies. According to the molecular docking studies, the extract’s constituents have binding affinities ranging from 0 to −10.2 kcal/mol for a variety of human target receptors, indicating possible pharmacological activity. Conclusions: These findings indicate that SIF-ME could serve as a promising natural source of compounds with neuropharmacological, anthelmintic, thrombolytic, and antipyretic properties. Full article

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of kinship-based control, which serves as a mechanism of labour exploitation among Bangladeshi migrant workers in manufacturing and labour-intensive sectors in the Northern Emirates. The current study explores different case studies regarding participants dominated by familial control mechanisms that lead to Bangladeshi migrant workers finding themselves in vulnerable situations. This study incorporated an ethnographic research method. Data was gathered through participant observation, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews. The study includes different participant cases, including accounts from Bangladeshi migrant workers and their family members. In-depth interviews were conducted with a total of twelve participants to understand the experiences of Bangladeshi migrant workers and analyzed using a thematic approach. The findings of this study reveal six major themes: moral blackmail, isolation within the family, moral obligation and silence, familial control structures, abuse framed as duty, and informal hierarchies. This study shows that the existing labour mechanism is challenging for Bangladeshi workers, requiring strict attention from the host country to address challenges related to cultural obligations, the minimum wage, restricted movement, and harsh working conditions. It is implied that Bangladesh must make policy changes to create protective migration policies, establish worker independence, and provide pre-departure welfare programmes. Educational programmes developed by NGOs and public officials must include widespread awareness initiatives to heighten the focus on migrants and their family members and break unsustainable cultural standards. The novel aspect of this study lies in the fact that it explores family-based labour exploitation, which is rarely studied in migration research. Full article

Background/Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising healthcare for people with disabilities, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in the era of advanced technology. This work explicitly addresses the challenges posed by inconsistent data from various sources by developing and evaluating a robust deep ensemble learning system for the accurate and reliable classification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on facial images. Methods: We created a system that learns from two publicly accessible datasets of ASD images (Kaggle and YTUIA), each with unique demographics and image characteristics. Utilising a weighted ensemble strategy (FPPR), our innovative ASD-UANet ensemble combines the Xception and ResNet50V2 models to maximise model contributions. This methodology underwent extensive testing on a range of groups stratified by age and gender, including a critical assessment of an unseen, real-time dataset (UIFID) to determine how well it generalised to new domains. Results: The performance of the ASD-UANet ensemble was consistently better. It significantly outperformed individual transfer learning models (e.g., Xception alone on T1+T2 yielded an accuracy of 83%), achieving an impressive 96.0% accuracy and an AUC of 0.990 on the combined-domain dataset (T1+T2). Notably, the ASD-UANet ensemble demonstrated strong generalisation on the unseen real-time dataset (T3), achieving 90.6% accuracy and an AUC of 0.930. This demonstrates how well it generalises to new data distributions. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate significant potential for widespread, equitable, and clinically beneficial ASD screening using this promising, reasonably priced, and non-invasive method. This study establishes the foundation for more precise diagnoses and greater inclusion for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by integrating methods for diverse data and combining deep learning models. Full article

This study investigates urban warming in Rajshahi City, Bangladesh, by examining changes in land surface temperature (LST) from 1990 to 2023 and exploring its relationship with key biophysical factors. LST was derived from Landsat thermal imagery, and both spatial and temporal variations were analyzed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Key biophysical indices, including Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI), and Normalized Difference Bareness Soil Index (NDBSI), were calculated using corresponding Landsat satellite sensors, and they evaluated the impact of LULC types (vegetation, water, soil, and built-up areas) on thermal variations. LULC was derived following the Support Vector Machine classification technique. The Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI) was employed to assess surface urban heat island (SUHI) effects, warming conditions, ecological stress, and thermal comfort zones. Spatial trend and hotspot analyses of LST change were performed using spatial trend analysis and the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic, respectively. Linear regression analysis examined the relationship between LST and biophysical indices. Results show that winter mean LST increased by 2.66 °C during the 33-year period, with maximum LST rising by 4.29 °C. The most significant warming occurred in central-northern, central-western, and south-eastern zones. The rise in LST and the growing intensity of SUHI effects are largely due to urban growth, especially where green spaces and water bodies have been replaced by impervious surfaces. Hotspot analysis identified clusters of high-temperature zones, while UTFVI analysis confirmed a marked expansion of strong heat island conditions, especially in central urban areas. Linear regression results showed notable links between LST and key biophysical variables, where higher LST values were commonly linked to greater built-up density and declines in vegetation cover and surface water. Overall, the results highlight the need for better urban planning approaches such as increasing green cover, using permeable materials, and adopting strategies that can adapt to climate impacts. This study presents a framework for analyzing urban climate dynamics that can be adapted to other rapidly growing cities, aiding efforts to promote sustainable development and build urban resilience. Full article

Cyclone Mocha, classified as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm (ESCS), followed an unusual northeastward trajectory while exhibiting a well-defined eyewall structure. It experienced rapid intensification (RI) before making landfall along the Myanmar coast. It caused heavy rainfall (~90 mm) and gusty winds (~115 knots) over the coastal regions of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries, such as the coasts of Bangladesh and Myanmar. The factors responsible for the RI of the cyclone in lower latitudes, such as sea surface temperature (SST), tropical cyclone heat potential (TCHP), vertical wind shear (VWS), and mid-tropospheric moisture content, are studied using the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) SST and National Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) Unified Model (NCUM) global analysis. The results show that SST and TCHP values of 30 °C and 100 (KJ cm⁻²) over the Bay of Bengal (BoB) favored cyclogenesis. However, a VWS (ms⁻¹) and relative humidity (RH; %) within the range of 10 ms⁻¹ and >70% also provided a conducive environment for the low-pressure system to transform into the ESCS category. The physical mechanism of RI and recurvature of the Mocha cyclone have been investigated using forecast products and compared with Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) and Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) satellite observations. The key results indicate that a dry air intrusion associated with a series of troughs and ridges at a 500 hPa level due to the western disturbance (WD) during that time was very active over the northern part of India and adjoining Pakistan, which brought north-westerlies at the 200 hPa level. The existence of troughs at 500 and 200 hPa levels are significantly associated with a Rossby wave pattern over the mid-latitude that creates the baroclinic zone and favorable for the recurvature and RI of Mocha cyclone clearly represented in the NCUM analysis. Moreover the Q-vector analysis and steering flow (SF) emphasize the vertical motion and recurvature of the Mocha cyclone so as to move in a northeast direction, and this has been reasonably well represented by the NCUM model analysis and the 24, 7-, and 120 h forecasts. Additionally, a quantitative assessment of the system indicates that the model forecasts of TC tracks have an error of 50, 70, and 100 km in 24, 72, and 120 h lead times. Thus, this case study underscores the capability of the NCUM model in representing the physical mechanisms behind the recurving and RI over the BoB. Full article

The Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHTs) in Bangladesh have a rich biodiversity, hosting a wide range of wild mammal species, underscoring the importance of systematic monitoring focused on conservation efforts. This study aims to assess the diversity and abundance of small- and medium-sized wild mammal species in Pittachhara Forest in the CHTs. A comprehensive wildlife monitoring survey was conducted in this forest using strategically placed camera traps to identify the wild species diversity, and we evaluated the activity patterns and seasonal variations for the period of February 2023 to August 2024. The camera trap identified eight species of small- and medium-sized wild mammals: the Bengal slow loris, northern pig-tailed macaque, leopard cat, large Indian civet, common palm civet, crab-eating mongoose, northern tree shrew, and black rat. The activity patterns showed distinct temporal behaviors among these wild mammals, with nocturnal activity dominating for the Bengal slow loris and leopard cat, while the northern pig-tailed macaque exhibited diurnal activity. Seasonal variations demonstrated a significant difference in increased activity among most wild mammal species throughout the summer, particularly the large Indian civet and crab-eating mongoose, likely due to favorable environmental conditions, and decreased activity in the winter (p < 0.05). The findings suggest an intricate connection between species-specific behaviors and environmental factors that influence activity patterns, with increased activity in summer and a decrease in winter, indicating that summer conditions may enhance the movement and foraging behaviors of mammals. This study underscores the necessity for continuous biodiversity monitoring followed by conservation efforts in Pittachhara Forest to reduce the threats of habitat fragmentation, human disturbances, and inadequate protection, thus protecting the survival of endangered wild mammal species and maintaining the environmental harmony of this small, protected area. Full article

The once-dominant view that architectural developments in mediaeval Southeast Asia closely followed Indian ‘influence’ is now largely rejected. Recent scholarship has shifted its focus onto the agency of local artists and architects in driving architectural innovations across the region. However, specific cases of transregional exchanges in architectural ideas and practices remain underexplored. This study examines three geographically distant Buddhist sites—Paharpur in northern Bangladesh, Candi Sewu in Central Java, Indonesia, and Samye Monastery in central Tibet—active in the late 8th century. I consider the significance of specific similarities and their temporal correlations within a broader range of styles, materials, and technologies. I argue that the activity at these sites reveals a shared architectural agenda transmitted over vast distances by religious experts, including Buddhist monks, in the last decades of the 8th century. Central to the network of three temple-monasteries proposed is the role that a specific architectural type was understood to play in protecting the kingdom and extending a king’s sovereignty while manifesting his spiritual aspirations. By distinguishing between architectural forms, architectural agendas, and modes of production, this study clarifies the complex nature of transregional architectural exchange in the premodern world. Full article

The common cutworm, Spodoptera litura (F.), feeds on a wide variety of food and cash crops and is one of the most widespread and destructive agricultural pests worldwide. Migration is the biological basis of its regional population outbreaks but the seasonal movement of this pest between east and south Asia regions remains unknown. In this study, searchlight traps were used to monitor the seasonal migration of S. litura from 2019 to 2023 in Ruili City (Yunnan, China), located along the insect migratory route between China and the south Asia region. The results showed that migratory activity could occur throughout the year, with the main periods found in spring (April–May) and autumn (October–December). The ovarian development and mating status of the trapped females indicated that most individuals were in the middle or late stages of migration and that Ruili City was located in the transit area of the long-distance migration of the pest. In the migration trajectory simulation, populations of S. litura moved from northeast India, Bangladesh, and northern Myanmar to southwestern China along the southern margin of the Himalayas in spring and returned to the south Asia region in autumn. Our findings clarify the seasonal migration patterns of S. litura in China and South Asia and facilitate the development of regional cross-border monitoring and management systems for this pest. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an unprecedented global health challenge, involving the transfer of bacteria and genes between humans and the environment. We simultaneously and longitudinally determined the AMR of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains isolated from diarrheal patients and an aquatic environment over two years from two geographically distinct locations, Coastal Mathbaria and Northern Chhatak in Bangladesh. A total of 60% and 72% of ETEC strains from the patients in Mathbaria and Chhatak, respectively, were multi-drug resistant (MDR) with a high proportion of ETEC resistant to nalidixic acid (80.7%), macrolides (49.1–89.7%), ampicillin (57.9–69%), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (55.2%). From the surface water, 68.8% and 30% of ETEC were MDR in Mathbaria and Chhatak, respectively, with a high proportion of ETEC strains resistant to macrolides (87.5–100%), ampicillin (50–75%), ceftriaxone (62.5%), and nalidixic acid (40%). Notably, 80–100% of the ETEC strains were susceptible to tetracycline and quinolones (ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin), both in clinical and aquatic ETEC. The AMR varied by the ETEC toxin types. The patterns of excessive or limited consumption of drugs to treat diarrhea over time in Bangladesh were reflected in the ETEC AMR from the patients and the environment. The high prevalence of MDR-ETEC strains in humans and the environment is of concern, which calls for vaccines and other preventative measures against ETEC. Full article

This article provides a comprehensive review of wide and ultrawide bandgap power electronic semiconductor devices, comparing silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC), gallium nitride (GaN), and the emerging device diamond technology. Key parameters examined include bandgap, critical electric field, electron mobility, voltage/current ratings, switching frequency, and device packaging. The historical evolution of each material is traced from early research devices to current commercial offerings. Significant focus is given to SiC and GaN as they are now actively competing with Si devices in the market, enabled by their higher bandgaps. The paper details advancements in material growth, device architectures, reliability, and manufacturing that have allowed SiC and GaN adoption in electric vehicles, renewable energy, aerospace, and other applications requiring high power density, efficiency, and frequency operation. Performance enhancements over Si are quantified. However, the challenges associated with the advancements of these devices are also elaborately described: material availability, thermal management, gate drive design, electrical insulation, and electromagnetic interference. Alongside the cost reduction through improved manufacturing, material availability, thermal management, gate drive design, electrical insulation, and electromagnetic interference are critical hurdles of this technology. The review analyzes these issues and emerging solutions using advanced packaging, circuit integration, novel cooling techniques, and modeling. Overall, the manuscript provides a timely, rigorous examination of the state of the art in wide bandgap power semiconductors. It balances theoretical potential and practical limitations while assessing commercial readiness and mapping trajectories for further innovation. This article will benefit researchers and professionals advancing power electronic systems. Full article

This study delves into the long-term atmospheric transport and deposition of ²¹⁰Pb in the Northern Hemisphere by using the atmospheric transport model HIRAT. The calculation for the four-year (2012–2015) period showed an average deposition flux of 13.0 Bq m⁻² month⁻¹ with significant seasonal variations characterized by higher deposition rates during summer and lower during winter. High deposition was found in the Northern Bay of Bengal and Bangladesh regions, Southern China, the Western Philippine Sea, the Eastern Japan Sea, the Northwestern Pacific region, the Eastern and Western coasts of North America, the Caribbean Sea, the Eastern Pacific region off of Central America, the Central Atlantic region between Central America and Africa, and the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Deposition patterns varied across latitudinal zones, with tropical areas experiencing the highest deposition and polar/subpolar zones the lowest. This study emphasized the impact of monsoons on the significantly large ²¹⁰Pb deposition in the Japan Sea region. Furthermore, this study showed that the lower troposphere (0 to 3 km) dominates with about 53%, and the middle troposphere (3 to 6 km) and upper troposphere (above 6 km) also contribute significantly to the total ²¹⁰Pb inventory with 37% and 10%, respectively. These findings provide essential insights into the characteristics of atmospheric transport and deposition of ²¹⁰Pb, and their mechanisms. Full article

The evolution of e-commerce amid the positive growth forecast of the e-commerce market has sparked scholarly interest in e-shopping antecedents to better understand customer behavior and ensure sustainable e-shopping services. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the enablers of customers’ e-shopping intention and e-shopping behavior in the post-pandemic period. Personal innovativeness, service quality, perceived risk, and trust were incorporated into the Unified Theory of Technology Acceptance and Usage (UTAUT) original framework and UTAUT 2 in this study. To explore the relationship among the study variables, data were collected from 420 shoppers via an online survey using a convenience sampling technique. The obtained data were analyzed using a multi-analytic approach, such as structural equation modeling and artificial neural networks (SEM-ANN). The empirical findings showed that trust, habit, and e-shopping intention significantly influence consumers’ e-shopping behavior. Furthermore, the results indicated that personal innovativeness, facilitating conditions, performance expectancy, habit, effort expectancy, perceived risk, price value, hedonic motivation, service quality, and trust were all significantly linked to e-shopping intention. The study revealed that effort expectancy acts as a mediator between service quality and e-shopping behavior. This research provides valuable insights into e-shopping behavior in developing countries during the post-pandemic era. By providing a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of the factors that influence e-shopping behavior, hybrid SEM-ANN analysis can help managers and policymakers arrive at better-informed decisions to promote and encourage e-shopping. Full article

Bagasse is produced as a waste in the sugar production process, which is used as fuel to stoke boilers in the sugar mills. The concluding product of this burning is residual sugarcane bagasse ash (BA), which is normally dumped or used as low-quality fertilizer. The ash for this study was collected from a reputed sugar mill located in the northern region of Bangladesh. Type I Portland cement (PC) was partially replaced with that finely ground bagasse ash without any pretreatment. The ground BA was used as a replacement for Portland cement at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30% of BA, respectively, in structural mortar. In addition, chemical characterization, specific gravity, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), setting time, a strength activity index, compressive strength, water absorption, density and durability in a chloride environment of mortar were determined. The strength activity index result indicates that the used BA has the pozzolanic properties to be used as a partial cement replacement. The results showed that, at the age of 56 days, the mortar samples containing 5–15% ground bagasse ash had higher compressive strengths than the control mixture (mortar without ground bagasse ash). Mortar containing 15% ground bagasse ash had the highest mechanical and durability properties. Therefore, the substitution of 15% BA is acceptable for producing good quality structural mortar in the civil engineering construction field except in chloride environments. Full article