Experience of Exchange Transfusion in a Newly Established SCANU at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh

Hyperbilirubinemia is common in neonates. The value of exchange transfusion (ET) is recognized. The procedure has some risks and complications. This descriptive observational cross sectional study was done in the Neonatology department during the period of January 2013 to December 2013. Total 62 patients were studied. ET was done in 47 patients. Among 47 patients, 29(61.7%) were male and 18(38.3%) were female. The most common cause of ET was Rh incompatibility (46.8%). In order of frequency, major findings were ABO incompatibility (25.5%), unidentified (14.9%), Sepsis (6.4%), minor blood group incompatibility (4.3%) and others (2.1%) respectively. Mean Serum bilirubin level was 22±5.1mg/dl. Most common complications following ET were anemia (12.7%), Sepsis (10.6%), and omphalitis (6.4%). The overall mortality observed was 6.4%. The majority of the adverse events associated with ET were treatable.

Polarizer based upon a plasmonic resonant thin layer on a squeezed photonic crystal fiber

In this article, a polarizer based on surface plasmon resonance in a squeezed rectangular lattice is analyzed through a full-vector finite-element method solver. The device allows one state of polarization (e.g., y-polarized mode) to propagate through the fiber while the other state (x-polarized mode) is heavily attenuated: the modal losses for the x- and y-polarized modes are 1221 dB/cm and 1.6 dB/cm, respectively, at the wavelength of 1310 nm. Given the high differential attenuation between the two orthogonal polarization modes, the device could be used as a compact polarizer with potential applications in sensing, communications, and other areas.

Composite chromium and graphene oxide as saturable absorber in ytterbium-doped Q-switched fiber lasers

In recent years, graphene and its compounds (e.g., oxides) have been used as saturable absorbers in passive Q-switched and mode-locked lasers, leading to the fabrication of compact pulsed fiber lasers. In this article, we study the operation of a Q-switched ytterbium-doped fiber ring laser based on a composite saturable absorber made of graphene oxide and chromium. We show that the addition of a thin layer of chromium can lead to pulse durations ranging from 3.5 to 9.4 μs and subsequently increasing the laser peak power.

Transnational relations between perceived parental acceptance and personality dispositions of children and adults: a meta-analytic review

Three questions drawn from parental acceptance-rejection theory were addressed: (a) Are children's perceptions of parental acceptance transnationally associated with specific personality dispositions? (b) Are adults' remembrances of parental acceptance in childhood transnationally associated with these personality dispositions? and (c) Do relations between parental acceptance and offspring's personality dispositions vary by gender of parents? All studies used the child and adult versions of the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaires (PARQ) for Mothers and for Fathers, as well as the child and adult versions of the Personality Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ). Results showed that both maternal and paternal acceptance in childhood correlated significantly in all countries with all seven personality dispositions of adult offspring. Adults' remembrance of paternal acceptance in childhood correlated significantly with all adult personality dispositions except dependence.

Pancultural Associations Between Perceived Parental Acceptance and Psychological Adjustment of Children and Adults

This meta-analysis tests the pancultural generalizability of two central postulates drawn from parental acceptance-rejection theory (PARTheory). The meta-analysis is based on 66 studies involving 19,511 respondents from 22 countries on five continents. All studies used the child and adult versions of the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaires for Mothers and for Fathers as well as the child and adult versions of the Personality Assessment Questionnaire. Results of analyses showed that the mean unweighted and weighted effect sizes of correlations between perceived maternal and paternal acceptance with offspring’s psychological adjustment were significant for both children and adults across all cultures studied. The results also showed that the mean weighted effect size of the correlation between paternal acceptance and psychological adjustment was significantly stronger than the mean weighted effect size of the correlation between maternal acceptance and psychological adjustment for children (but not for adults).

Intrathoracic kidney in adult with an abnormal presentation

Intra thoracic kidney is a rare congenital anomaly. Pathologically thoracic renal ectopia is due to eventration of the diaphragm. Usually symptoms appear in infancy and rarely in adult with respiratory problems and with organ involved. This only patient presented with left sided chest pain and abdominal discomfort at the age of 52 years having repeated previous similar attack in the department of Cardiology. Chest X ray and ultrasonography of whole abdomen was done along with other routine investigations, which reveals an ectopic and elevated left kidney. Five percent of the renal ectopia is intrathoracic kidney. It usually is symptomatic in infantile age but adult presentation is also found.

Perceived parental control in childhood and sexual preferences of adult offspring

To assess the relation between perceived parental control during childhood and sexual preferences of offspring during adulthood, 80 adult offspring of heterosexual orientation reported significantly lower parental control during childhood than 7 adult offspring with nonheterosexual orientation.

Human aspects of shift work in the developing countries--I: A case study in Bangladesh

There currently is little information available that allows objective prediction of psychosocial risks and benefits associated with the shift work in the developing countries. To provide such information, this study assessed possible differential effects of fatigue associated with the shift workers' attitude, job satisfaction, psychosocial problems, and other difficulties. Data were collected from the subjective responses on various scales using questionnaire among sixty adult male subjects working on a weekly rotating three-shift system in a shoe factory in Bangladesh. The results indicated that shift work is associated with negative aspects of disturbing their family, conjugal and social lives, curtailed leisure activities, created difficulties in meeting their friends, caused irregularity of their mealtime, affected sleep and caused health problems. However, the effect is significant only for such feelings of social and family aspects, as well as sleepy and lively hood but no significant main effects of shift schedule are observed for any of the behavioural and organizational context.

Industrial pollution and quality of life of workers in Bangladesh

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of industrial pollution on the quality of life of workers in Bangladesh. A total of 110 workers comprising 60 from a polluted industry and 50 from a non-polluted industry were randomly selected for this study. The measuring instruments used were: The Inventory of Subjective Health (Dirken, 1967), The General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg, 1972), The Occupational Stress Index (Srivastava and Singh, 1981), The Life Descriptive Scale (Wright, 1988), and the Interview Schedule on Personal and Health Related Questionnaire (Khaleque, 1988). The results showed that the workers of the polluted industry suffered more from health problems and were less satisfied with their quality of life than those of the non-polluted industry. The results also revealed that the workers' health, well-being and quality of life were also affected by unhygienic home environment, malnutrition, transport problems, and lack of health care facilities. The result supported the view that the workplace pollution and the health and well-being of the workers were negatively related to each other.

Critical flicker frequency of mentally retarded and normal persons

Critical flicker frequency (CFF) of 40 men, 20 mentally retarded whose mean age was 22.0 yr. and 20 normal whose mean age was 21.5 yr., was measured under binocular viewing using the Lafayette Visual Perception Control with a display unit. Subjects had been previously tested for visual acuity and color blindness. Analysis showed a significant difference in CFF between mentally retarded persons and normal individuals, the former having lower CFF than the latter. This finding suggests lower perceptual sensitivity of the mentally retarded persons. Further research with provision for EEG recordings is suggested.

Effects of diurnal and seasonal sleep deficiency on work effort and fatigue of shift workers

This study was designed to assess and compare the quantity and quality of sleep of morning, afternoon, and night shift workers during the winter and summer seasons, and to evaluate the effects of sleep deficiency on the work effort and fatigue of the workers. The subjects studied consisted of a sample of 150 textile workers, working on a monthly rotating 3-shift system: morning shift (06.00-11.00 and 14.00-17.00) afternoon shift (11.00-14.00 and 17.00-22.00), and night shift (22.00-06.00). Information concerning quantity and quality of sleep were registered daily over a week for every subject. The Ratings of Perceived Effort scale and the Feeling and Symptoms of Fatigue scale were used to collect information about feeling of effort and fatigue of the subjects. The results showed that the duration of sleep length is longest in the afternoon and shortest in the night shift both during summer and winter. The amount of sleep is shorter during summer during all three shifts. The workers spent more effort and felt more fatigued during summer than winter. The shift workers, particularly of the tropical region, like Bangladesh, seem to be worst affected in terms of quantity and quality of sleep, health and well-being due to extremely high temperature (30-45 degrees Celsius) during summer than winter (5-25 degrees Celsius). The workers think that the problems of shift work could be minimized by improving the quality of working and living conditions, reducing cycle of rotation, shortening working day and closing night shift during peak summer.

Studies on the development of infant foods from plant protein sources. Part III. Preparation, processing and properties of various products developed

Studies have been carried out on the development of a low-cost, high-quality infant food of low paste viscosity from rice, chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and cow's milk. In order to improve the overall quality of the product, chickpea was processed by different methods prior to its incorporation. A number of formulations was prepared by mixing 52% rice, 30% each, the processed chickpea sample, and 18% whole milk powder. These mixtures were processed by extrusion cooking or drum drying. In the case of the extrusion cooking method, from the nutritional and technological points of view, it was found advantageous to incorporate milk powder after cooking a mixture of rice and chickpea. The values of net protein ratio (NPR) of the products developed, whether processed by extrusion cooking or drum-drying methods, were statistically equal, and not significantly different from those of casein. Supplementing the product with methionine and threonine showed no effect in improving the NPR value, suggesting that these amino acids were not limiting. There were slight differences in the digestibilities of proteins in the products developed and all were lower than that of casein. Depending on the processing method, differences were observed in paste viscosities of the products. After partial hydrolysis of the products with pounds amylase, both the cold and hot paste viscosities were greatly reduced and were comparable with those of whole milk powder. From the results herein reported, it can be concluded that the drum-dried product prepared using rice:chickpea (carbonate presoaked):milk (52:30:18) is the best of all the products developed. Its amino acid composition compares favorably with that of the milk proteins.

Studies on the development of infant foods from plant protein sources. Part II. Effect of processing conditions on the chemical and nutritive properties of chickpea (Cicer arietinum)

In order to improve the taste, flavor and nutritional quality of chickpea (Cicer arietinum), various processing conditions were studied. The decorticated samples were processed under various conditions, either by presoaking or non-soaking in water or sodium carbonate solution. The proteins were also isolated from water or carbonate-presoaked chickpea and subjected to various processing. Carbonate-presoaked samples gave slightly lower protein and ash values. No major changes in other constituents were observed. Subjective analysis of the intensity of characteristic chickpea flavor in processed samples was carried out, indicating some improvement in the carbonate-presoaked samples. Carbonate-treated samples exhibited a lighter color. The carbonate presoaking procedure had no adverse effect on the availability of lysine and nitrogen solubility index (NSI), as compared to the water-presoaking procedure. The time required to inactivate trypsin inhibitors in carbonate-presoaked chickpea at boiling temperature, was half that required in the case of water-presoaked ones. Under the conditions used in treating chickpea with sodium carbonate, no beneficial effect was observed in reducing the tannin content. No significant differences were observed in net protein ratio (NPR) among the various processed chickpea samples, even though in some cases isolated protein gave significantly lower NPR values. Digestibility values were higher for isolated protein than for whole chickpea samples.

Studies on the development of infant foods from plant protein sources. Part I. Effect of germination of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) on the nutritive value and digestibility of proteins

For the purpose of developing an infant food of improved dispersibility characteristics and high nutritive quality, different treatments and technologies were applied to chickpea (Cicer arietinum). Samples were germinated for two and four days at room temperature (25 - 27 degrees C). One portion of each germinated chickpea sample was boiled for 40 min and the other portion was autoclaved at 15 psi for 15 min. These processed samples were then compared with the corresponding value of raw germinated and ungerminated samples as well as with the ungerminated processed ones for the following characteristics: chemical composition, contents of antiphysiological factors, solubility of proteins, lysine availability, net protein ratio (NPR), and digestibility of proteins. Germination caused an increase in the protein content of the seeds. No appreciable changes were observed in the trypsin inhibitor and tannin contents during germination. Availability of lysine was found slightly lower in the germinated seeds. The solubility of the nitrogenous constituents was markedly increased during germination. Along with processing, germination had no beneficial effect in improving protein quality, although digestibility of the proteins was increased. Boiling was more advantageous in the case of germinated seeds than autoclaving, whereas the reverse was true in the case of ungerminated seeds.

Performance and strain in short-cycled repetitive work

The present study is an attempt to assess and compare the job related perceived effort and some forms of strain of 20 high and 20 low performance female subjects doing short cycled repetitive work. Their task consists of feeding machines with tobacco leaves for wrapping and finishing cigars. The results, quite unexpectedly, show that the high performance subjects spend more effort and experience a greater degree of strain as compared to the low performance subjects. It seems that the high performers are subjecting themselves to more stress and strain to earn a higher rate of bonus because they are less satisfied with their pay. One possible step to solve this problem might be the readjustment of the bonus system. Another step might be the adaptation of the cycle time of the machine to the differences in speed skill of the workers.

Studies on the processing and properties of soymilk. II. Effect of processing conditions on the trypsin inhibitor activity and the digestibility in vitro of proteins in various soymilk preparations

Soymilks prepared from beans which had been soaked either in water or 0.4 M sodium carbonate solution for 24 h as a pretreatment were subjected to heat treatment under different conditions for varying lengths of time, to destroy the trypsin inhibitor activity. The rate of inactivation oftrypsia inhibitor in soy milks prepared from carbonate presoaked beans was faster than that of the water presoaked preparation when processed at 98°C and this effect was primarily associated with the change that occurred in the pH of the former system; The effect of alkaline pH's at 98°C on the inactivation of trypsin inhibitor was examined and it was found that the rate of inactivation was changed from zero order at pff 6.8 to first‐order kinetics at pH 9.9. Regression equation relating pH of the system and time of heating at 98°C for 100% destruction of the inhibitor activity is presented. This effect of pretreatment was eliminated when both milks were processed at 115°C in cans because of the constancy of pH under these conditions. The influence of heat processing conditions on the enzymic digestibility of proteins in both soymilks was also studied. The pepsin digestion showed no significant differences between milks prepared from the water and the carbonate presoaked soybeans, and was highest in milks which had not been heat treated. With trypsin the digestibility increased with the degree of heal treatment up to the point where the trypsin inhibitor was destroyed, after which further heating resulted in lower digestibilities. A 19% increase in digestibility by trypsin was observed in the milk prepared from carbonate presoaked beans when compared with that from water presoaked beans and after both milks had been heated at 98°C for just sufficient time to destroy the trypsin inhibitor. When the milk prepared from water presoaked beans was autoclaved at 115°C to the same end point, its digestibility increased but it was still about 6% lower than that of the milk prepared by alkali presoaking method and processed at 98°C. The digestibility of casein using pepsin under the conditions used was lower than that of both soymilks. When trypsin was used the digestibility of casein was approximately the same as that of the adequately processed soymilk from carbonate presoaked soybeans or the autoclavtd soymilk from water presoaked beans. Other effects of using a carbonate presoaking treatment far the production of soymilk have also been discussed.