• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.6.1-6.10
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• 2021

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is expressed at elevated levels by most cancer cells, which can stimulate vascular endothelial cell growth, survival, proliferation as well as trigger angiogenesis modulated by VEGF and VEGFR (a tyrosine kinase receptor) signaling. The angiogenic effects of the VEGF family are thought to be primarily mediated through the interaction of VEGF with VEGFR-2. Targeting this signaling molecule and its receptor is a novel approach for blocking angiogenesis. In recent years virtual high throughput screening has emerged as a widely accepted powerful technique in the identification of novel and diverse leads. The high resolution X-ray structure of VEGF has paved the way to introduce new small molecular inhibitors by structure-based virtual screening. In this study using different alkaloid molecules as potential novel inhibitors of VEGF, we proposed three alkaloid candidates for inhibiting VEGF and VEGFR mediated angiogenesis. As these three alkaloid compounds exhibited high scoring functions, which also highlights their high binding ability, it is evident that these alkaloids can be taken to further drug development pipelines for use as novel lead compounds to design new and effective drugs against cancer.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.281-289
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• 2020

The study was conducted to observe the effects of compost of faecal sludge (FSC) and food waste (FWC) on seed germination and initial growth performance of Acacia auriculiformis and Swietenia mahagoni seedlings at the nursery of Chittagong University, Bangladesh. Before sowing the seeds, different combinations of FSC and FWC were incorporated with nutrient-deficient natural forest soils. Seed germination and growth parameters of seedlings were recorded after two, three and four month of seed sowing. We observed that seed germination (%) and seedlings growth parameters varied significantly (p<0.05) in the soil added with FSC and FWC in comparison to control. The highest germination was observed 88.89% for A. auriculiformis in combination of soil and FSC at 3:1 and 92.59% for S. mahagoni where soil combined with FWC at 4:1. The seedling biomass and other growth parameters of A. auriculiformis and S. mahagoni was also observed with combinations of soil with FSC 3:1 and soil with FWC 4:1. Therefore, the study revealed that the compost of both FS and FW can be a good soil conditioner for the initial growth of forest seedlings and the proven combinations can help to grow quality seedlings in the nursery.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.217-227
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• 2021

This study is a record of ethnomedicinal knowledge in Begumganj province focussed on medicinal plants and their local uses for primary health care. The aim was to document and preserve the ethnomedicinal knowledge used by traditional healers of Begumganj upazila, Bangladesh, to treat human diseases and evaluate the relative efficacy of the medicinal plants. The uses of medicinal plants were documented as an ethnomedicinal data sheet using direct observation, field interview, plant interview and group interview techniques from December 2012 to January 2014 in the study area. Data were collected from 98 traditional healers through a questionnaire survey and analyzed through informant consensus factor and fidelity level. This study revealed comprehensive relationship among various diseases and families, forms and parts of plants and modes of preparation. Overall, 75 plant species under 71 genera of 47 families were documented, which are used to treat 41 diseases. Data analysis revealed that 41.33%, 14.67%, 36% and 8% of the medicinal plant species were herbs, shrubs, trees, and climbers, respectively. Leaves were the most used parts, followed by stem, root, fruit, bark, latex and rhizome. The most frequently treated diseases were dysentery, rheumatism and skin diseases. This is the first ethnobotanical survey, which recorded the importance of medicinal plants in Begumganj upazila, Bangladesh. This study can contribute to preserving the indigenous knowledge on the traditional use of medicinal plants in this region and new drug development with attracting future generations towards traditional healing practice.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.204-212
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• 2023

Background: Isotopes of the projectile may be produced along the beam path during the irradiation of a target by a heavy ion due to inelastic interactions with the media. This study analyzed the production cross-section of carbon (C) and Helium (He) projectile's isotopes resulting from the interactions of these beams with different materials along the beam path. Materials and Methods: In this study, we transport C and He ion beams through different materials. This transportation was made by the Monte Carlo simulation. Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System (PHITS) has been used for this calculation. Results and Discussion: It has been found that ¹⁰C, ¹¹C, and ¹³C from the ¹²C ion beam and ³He from the ⁴He ion beam are significant projectile's isotopes that have higher flux than other isotopes of these projectiles. The ⁴He ion beam has a higher projectile's isotope production cross-section along the beam path, which adds more impurities to the beam than the ¹²C ion beam. These projectile's isotopes from both the ¹²C and ⁴He ion beams have higher production cross-sections in hydrogenous materials like water or polyethylene. Conclusion: It is important to distinguish these projectile's isotopes from the primary beam particles to obtain a precise and accurate cross-section result by minimizing the error during measurement with a nuclear track detector. This study will show the trend of the production probability of projectile's isotopes for these ion beams.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2020

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different pre-sowing treatments of seeds on germination and growth performance of native threatened tree species Quercus gomeziana A. Camus at the nursery of Chittagong University, Bangladesh. Furthermore, seedling growth attributes under different doses of fertilizer (urea) was also experimented to find the best dose of fertilizer on this tree species at the nursery stage for better field level growth. Seeds were placed to six pre-sowing treatments e.g. control (PT₀), treated with sand paper rubbing (PT₁), nicking (PT₂), seeds immersed in cold water for 48 hours (PT₃), seeds immersed in cold water for 7 days (PT₄) and seeds sown at propagator house with increased temperature (PT₅). It was found from the study that germination was started earlier (at 31 days) in treatments sand paper rubbing (PT₁) and nicking (PT₂). The highest germination percentage (93%) was in PT₁ followed by 86% in seeds immersed in cold water for 7 days (PT₄) and 80% in PT₀ (control). Germination percentage was observed least (63%) in PT₂ even though germination started earlier. For fertilizer dose experiment to seedlings at the nursery level, treatment FT₁: 100 kg/ha (0.33679 g urea/pot/seedling) comparing with other treatments FT₀: 0 kg/ha (Control), FT₂: 200 kg/ha (0.67358 g urea/pot/seedling), FT₃: 300 kg/ha (1.01037 g urea/pot/seedling) showed better performance in case of collar diameter (6.74 mm), number of leaves, shoot dry weight (19.74), total dry weight (28.16 g), total fresh weight (67.96 g), volume index (3904.82), sturdiness (127.69). Finally, it can be concluded that Quercus gomeziana seedlings revealed better performances under the treatment FT₁ in growth and biomass production. Findings of this study will be helpful to take decision on organic fertilizer dose application to seedlings of Q. gomeziana for large scale plantation and conservation of this species.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.423-426
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• 1993

A total 930 outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) were recorded in Bangladesh from 1988 to 1991. Number of FMD outbreaks was recorded highest in Rajshahi division (304) followed by Dhaka (272), Khulna (203) and Chittagong (151). During 1988 to 1991, FMD outbreaks reached in peak level in 1990 (540) followed by 1989 (209), 1988 (95) and 1991 (86). Outbreaks though occurred throughout the year were higher in premonsoon and winter seasons. Morbidity rate was found significantly higher (p<0.01) in cattle (35.5%) than buffaloes (23.3%) and sheep/goats (4.8%). Of the cattle, bull/bullock infected more (p<0.01) than cows and calves. Morbidity rate in different animals was observed significantly higher (p<0.01) in Rajshahi and Dhaka divisions than in Khulna and Chittagong. Mortality specially in calves was found at the rate of 50.9%. Loss in milk yield was found to be 66.6%. Disease period for a FMD affected cattle varied from 16 to 26 days (average 22.7 days). Loss of working days per working cattle ranged from 14 to 24 days (average 21.2 days) and the loss in draft energy per cattle was found to be 12.7 to 18.9 KW hour.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.12
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• pp.211-222
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• 2020

This study examines simultaneous relationships between regulatory capital, risk, and cost-inefficiency for a sample of 30 commercial banks in Bangladesh from 2006 to 2018. To conduct the analysis, we used the Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM) in an unbalanced panel data framework. The empirical results show that there is a negative and significant relationship between capital regulation and credit, and overall risk. It is also evident from the results that the capital adequacy ratio is positively and significantly related to default risk and liquidity risk. Therefore, higher capitalized banks take an effort to prevent more credit risk and promote financial stability by reducing liquidity risk. Results also report that banks have been characterized as inefficient, less capitalized, and high risk. On the other hand, efficient banks are more stable but have a high level of liquidity risk. Besides, from the size of the bank, large banks are defined as having lower regulatory capital, are more risk seekers but stable with higher cost-efficiency. Notably, higher capitalized banks are more profitable and cost-efficient by reducing risk. Finally, this study also provides some insightful policy suggestions to the stakeholders.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.751-757
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• 2012

In order to develop specific genetic markers and determine the genetic diversity of Bangladeshi native cattle (Pabna, Red Chittagong) and exotic breeds (Sahiwal), randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was performed using 12 primers. Genomic DNA was extracted from 20 cattle (local and exotic) blood samples and extracted DNA was observed by gel electrophoresis. Among the random primers three were matched and found to be polymorphic. Genetic relations between cattle's were determined by RAPD polymorphisms from a total of 66.67%. Statistical analysis of the data, estimating the genetic distances between cattle and sketching the cluster trees were estimated by using MEGA 5.05 software. Comparatively highest genetic distance (0.834) was found between RCC-82 and SL-623. The lowest genetic distance (0.031) was observed between M-1222 and M-5730. The genetic diversity of Red Chittagong and Sahiwal cattle was relatively higher for a prescribed breed. Adequate diversity in performance and adaptability can be exploited from the study results for actual improvement accruing to conservation and development of indigenous cattle resources.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 2006

The hot water extract of the seeds of Vernonia anthelmintica Kuntze (Compositae) in a dose of 10 ml/kg body weight of mice, showed significant analgesic activity on the hot plate analgesic method throughout the 4 h experimental period. The hole cross scores and the climbing out scores are of lower than the control animals. The hot water extract reduced the defecation in hole board study and significantly reduces the exploratory ambulation and head dipping behaviour. The seed also showed significant depressant activity on the exploratory ambulation of the open field scores. The drug decreased the spontaneous locomotion activity on brick-chip displacement method up to 45 min and also showed the ability to lessen the amphetamine induced hyperactivity up to 20 min. But it didn't show any effect on pentobarbital induced sleeping time test. The extract reduced gastrointestinal motility.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.94 no.5 s.162
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• pp.342-348
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• 2005

An exploratory survey was performed to assess the present status of distribution and production of coconut palm (Cocos nucifera Linn.) in the rural landscape of Meghna floodplain of Bangladesh. A multistage simple random sampling technique was adopted to identify the study area and respondents. A total of 50 households were selected randomly for the study. Traditional knowledge on cultivation, management, and production of coconut palm was emphasized. Marketing of coconut palm products and income derived from coconut palm cultivation was taken into consideration. Perceptions of farmers, traders and professionals were described in due context of opportunities and constraints of coconut palm cultivation. Coconut palm cultivation was found to play an important role in household economy in rural Bangladesh sharing considerable contribution to the total income. About 10% of their total annual income was reported to come from coconut husbandry. Highest number of the coconut palms, 24%, was found to grow in the homestead compounds and in the pond banks. About one-third lands of the households were found to be covered by the coconut palms. Maximum, 19%, coconut palms were found in the 16-20 years age-class. Production of coconut was found highest at the age-class 11-15 years. The study found some important opportunities and constraints of coconut farming in rural Meghna floodplain area of Bangladesh. The results of this study would be useful for the rural development practitioners in Bangladesh.