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Background The use of large quantities of antimicrobial drugs for human health and agriculture is advancing the predominance of drug resistant pathogens in the environment. Antimicrobial resistance is now a major public health threat posing significant challenges for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In Bangladesh, where over one third of the population is below the poverty line, the achievement of safe and effective antibiotic medication use for human health is challenging. Objective To explore factors and practices around access and use of antibiotics and understanding of antimicrobial resistance in rural communities in Bangladesh from a socio-cultural perspective. Methods This qualitative study comprises the second phase of the multi-country ABACUS (Antibiotic Access and Use) project in Matlab, Bangladesh. Information was collected through six focus group discussions and 16 in-depth interviews. Informants were selected from ten villages in four geographic locations using the Health and Demographic Surveillance System database. The Access to Healthcare Framework guided the interpretation and framing of the findings in terms of individuals' abilities to: perceive, seek, reach, pay and engage with healthcare. Results Village pharmacies were the preferred and trusted source of antibiotics for self-treatment. Cultural and religious beliefs informed the use of herbal and other complementary medicines. Advice on antibiotic use was also sourced from trusted friends and family members. Access to government-run facilities required travel on poorly maintained roads. Reports of structural corruption, stock-outs and patient safety risks eroded trust in the public sector. Some expressed a willingness to learn about antibiotic resistance. Conclusion Antimicrobial resistance is both a health and development issue. Social and economic contexts shape medicine seeking, use and behaviours. Multi-sectoral action is needed to confront the underlying social, economic, cultural and political drivers that impact on the ...

This is a conference paper. ; Economic development in India has raised millions of people out of poverty and brought about the modernization of society. Economic ambition though has not been reached without costs. India has become more reliant of imports of energy which affects energy security. Pollution from industry, transport and traditional cook stoves affects air quality and is increasing emissions of greenhouse gases and contributing to climate change. . India initiated bio-fuel production nearly a decade ago to reduce its dependence on imported oil and thus improve energy security and is now one of the largest producers of Jatropha oil. The country began 5% ethanol blending (E5) pilot program in 2001 and formulated the National Mission on Biodiesel in 2003 to achieve 20% biodiesel blends by 2011–2012 (Government of India, 2002, 2003). Similar to many countries around the world, India's biofuel programs experienced setbacks, primarily because of supply shortages and global concerns over food security. India's National Policy on Biofuels in 2009 proposed a non-mandatory target of a 20% blend for both biodiesel and ethanol by 2017, and outlines a broad strategy for the biofuels program and policy measures to be considered to support the program. The aim of the paper is to review the potential for biofuels to off-set the use of fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in India. The recent historic use of biofuels in the context of Government policy developments will be presented. Example materials (crops, wastes, residues) that can be used for biofuels will be reviewed taking a systems approach through whole lifecycle assessment. Case studies highlighting failure and successes with biofuel utilization will be presented as examples of the challenges and opportunities for the use of biofuels in India, with suggestions made on the role of biofuels in the future.

A major concern for nuclear research reactors under normal operating conditions is that they may release radioactive elements into the atmosphere, endangering public health and the environment. The present study concentrated on the detailed radiological dose assessment resulting from the atmospheric release of 41Ar activity from the TRIGA Mark‐II research reactor in Bangladesh during its normal operational condition at full power of 3 MW. The total effective dose equivalent (TEDE), ground deposition activity, organ‐committed dose, and pathways dose values have been evaluated under different weather conditions using the HotSpot 3.1.2 code. The weather data have been gathered from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Dhaka. Two significant seasons with various weather stability effects have been considered for dose analysis. Atmospheric dispersion of 41Ar was evaluated using the Gaussian plume model. From the obtained results, the maximum TEDE of 4.06 × 10−9 Sv at 0.19 km distance from the reactor site for stability class B during the summer season is found to be well below the annual effective dose limit of 1 mSv recommended by the ICRP. During the rainy season, the maximum TEDE of 1.76 × 10−9 Sv at 0.92 km distance for stability class E is also found to be negligible compared to the dose limit. From the organ‐committed dose analysis, skin is investigated as the highest dose absorber compared to other organs. The pathways dose analysis concludes that the submersion and ground shine doses are observed to be maximum at 0.20 km and 1.0 km distances for the summer and rainy seasons, respectively. Based on the identified results, dose values have been found to be within the limiting values, ensuring environmental and human health safety. Such comprehensive dose analysis due to the atmospheric release of 41Ar activity is very significant from the perspective of ensuring the radiological and environmental safety of research‐type nuclear reactors under normal operational conditions.

As the first article of a two‐part series, the purpose of this paper is to examine the functional factors that contribute to automobile accident occurrence and to model the causation structure in the form of a fault‐tree. The fault‐tree model provides an intuitive framework for qualitatively decomposing possible pathways to accident occurrence. Fault‐tree analysis also provides a statistical representation of how interacting driver, vehicle, and environmental factors contribute to the likelihood of automobile accident occurrence. The application of this model facilitates pinpointing those factors that most contribute to accident causation and subsequently enables the identification and comparison of potential crash avoidance technologies.

Methylisothiazolinone (MI) is a preservative used in many household and industrial products. There has been an unprecedented global rise in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) from its presence in personal care products (PCPs). In 2005 changes to EU legislation allowed MI, used in combination with methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI), to be used at concentrations of up to 100ppm, 25 times higher than previously permitted. MI was also permitted to be used alone, whereas previously it was only used in combination with MCI in a 3:1 mix.(1) This resulted in the chain of events that led to the current MI allergy epidemic.By 2010, the first case series of ACD to MI as a cosmetic allergen was published. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.