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Fulltext Negative psychological and educational impacts of Corona Virus Anxiety on Chinese university students: Exploring university students' perceptions

Zhao S, Akhter S

Heliyon, 2023 Oct;9(10):e20373.
PMID: 37780746 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20373

COVID-19 has greatly affected various aspects of societies worldwide, including the mental health and quality of education for students. Different studies investigated the consequences of the pandemic, but only a few studies have addressed the negative psychological and educational impacts of Corona Virus Anxiety (CVA). This study addresses the effects of CVA on Chinese students and explores university perceptions of its consequences. A mixed-methods research design was used, with 440 university students selected through convenience sampling. The researchers used the CVA scale, generalized anxiety scale, mental health questionnaire, and a self-report scale to assess the students' educational attainment. In addition, 14 students were interviewed for the qualitative phase of the study. Data from the quantitative phase were analyzed using Pearson correlation and descriptive statistics, while content analysis techniques were employed for analyzing the qualitative data. Results showed that CVA is negatively associated with students' anxiety, stress, and depression. Furthermore, stress, anxiety, depression, and CVA were found to be negatively associated with students' GPAs. Qualitative findings revealed that CVA negatively affected students' GPAs, research projects, classroom engagement, and graduations. The findings are theoretically and practically important to universities, schools, and educational centers to avoid the effects of the CVA on students' educational attainment and mental health through appropriate planning and providing facilities to the students during the lockdown.
Genotypes of rotavirus diarrhoea in a children hospital of Bangladesh

Ahmed S, Hussain M, Akhter S, Islam T, Ahmed SU, Kabir ML

Mymensingh Med J, 2012 Jul;21(3):497-502.
PMID: 22828550

Globally, rotaviruses are the single most important etiologic agents of severe childhood dehydrating diarrhea that accounts for more than 125 million of cases, 25-55% of all hospital admissions for diarrhea and ≈600,000 deaths every year. In Bangladesh, while overall diarrhea related deaths are declining, the proportion of diarrhea deaths due to rotavirus is increasing. This study was aimed at estimating the burden of rotavirus diarrhea and isolating the genotypes of rotavirus in a children hospital of Bangladesh; thereby endorsing a logical search for an appropriate rotavirus vaccine. This cross sectional study was carried out in the Institute of Child and Mother Health, Matuail, Dhaka, Bangladesh during 2006-2007. Children aged between one month and five years suffering form diarrhea were enrolled in the study. Stool samples were analyzed by ELISA for rotavirus antigen. The rotavirus-positive samples were further analyzed for genotype determination. Among 656 stool samples, 39.5% samples were positive for rotavirus antigen. The mean age of the children studied was 12±9.9 months; the peak being in the second half of infancy. G2 was identified as the most dominant genotype (45.5%) followed by G1 (24.8%), G12 (9.6%), G9 (8.5%) and G4 (2.1%) genotypes. Since G2 were found to be the predominant circulating rotavirus strain in this study and some other studies in Bangladesh, the recommended vaccine for prevention of rotavirus infection in Bangladesh should cover this strain to have maximum effectiveness.
Effects of alternate nostril breathing exercise on cardiac functions in healthy young adults leading a stressful lifestyle

Jahan I, Begum M, Akhter S, Islam Z, Haque M, Jahan N

J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol, 2020 06 11;27(2):e68-e77.
PMID: 32543162 DOI: 10.15586/jptcp.v27i2.675

Alternate nostril breathing (ANB) is one of the best and easiest breathing exercises. ANB exercise has beneficial effects on cardiac function in healthy and diseased people. The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of ANB exercise on cardiac physiology among healthy medical students. This was a prospective interventional study that was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Chittagong Medical College (CMC), Chattogram, Bangladesh, from July 2017 to June 2018. A total of 100 research participants (RPs) aged 18-20 years, Year-I medical students of CMC, were selected. A simple random sampling method was adopted. The selection was done after the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The age and body mass index (BMI) of the RPs were analogous in both the control and experimental groups. Cardiac parameters, like pulse and blood pressure (BP), were measured. The initial baseline data were recorded for both groups and after 4 weeks. The research respondents of the experimental group performed ANB exercise for 4 weeks. The mean value pulse and BP were significantly (p < 0.001) changed after breathing exercise, compared to the values before the breathing exercise. The results of this study suggest that cardiac function significantly improves after the breathing exercise. Therefore, ANB can be recommended for increasing cardiac efficiency.
Fulltext Determinants of Unverified News Sharing on Social Media and Its Effects on Corporate Image

Zhang Z, Akhter S, Al-Abyadh MA, Cong PT

Front Psychol, 2022;13:937104.
PMID: 35911045 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.937104

Social media channels are interactive channels that let users spread content, participate, and generate positive or negative news. In this era of social media (SM), organizations run structured and systematic campaigns to shape their corporate images. The present study examines the role of social consciousness (SC) of employees, entertainment (Ent), and altruism (Alt) on unverified news sharing (UVN) with the mediation of corporate image (CI) and the moderation of workplace stress (WS). We conducted the study on 375 employees of the social media teams in the corporate sector in China. The sampling technique used in this study is convenience sampling. We carried out data analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM) with the help of Smart PLS (Partial Least Square) software. The results reveal that the entertainment and altruism of employees affect UVN. However, the direct negative effect of social consciousness of employees and CI on UVN came out to be insignificant. The findings also show that CI mediates the relationship between the social consciousness (SC) of employees and UVN, altruism and UVN, and entertainment and UVN. The moderating role of WS between CI and UVN is significant. Theoretically, the study contributes to the literature by examining the effect of different determinants of UVN on SM on the role of CI and WS. Practically, the present study provides implications for the managers and the organizations. The study finds that Alt is an essential factor that fosters UVN and CI; therefore, altruistic values of the employees should be instigated to reduce the flow of UVN.
Fulltext Impact of News Overload on Social Media News Curation: Mediating Role of News Avoidance

Zhang X, Akhter S, Nassani AA, Haffar M

Front Psychol, 2022;13:865246.
PMID: 35496237 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.865246

In this global village, easy access to news has resulted in many changes in the preferences and patterns of people for accessing news. Therefore, the present study has attempted to investigate the effects of news relevance, perceived quality, and news overloading on people's news curation preferences. This study has also examined the mediating role of news avoidance between the news relevance, perceived quality, and news overloading on the news curation. A quantitative technique has been employed to check the relationships proposed in the study. A sample size of 217 has been analyzed to check these hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed that news relevance has a negative impact while news overload positively and significantly impact the news curation. However, the news avoidance only mediated the relationship of news quality and news curation. Theoretically, the study has contributed to the literature of journalism and social media by finding that relevance of news has a negative significant impact on the news curation behavior of people, such that if they do not find the news relevant, they happily curate it. Practically, the study implies that the people are more prone to the quality of news rather than quantity; therefore, it is important for the news agencies to ensure that they produce and deliver the quality based news considering the accuracy to penetrate the Theoretic lass level.
Fulltext Innovative application of new media in visual communication design and resistance to innovation

Yu G, Akhter S, Kumar T, Ortiz GGR, Saddhono K

Front Psychol, 2022;13:940899.
PMID: 35992467 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.940899

It has become essential to create and apply new media in visual communication design due to social media existence. This study aims to investigate the role of innovative applications of new media in visual communication design in educational institutions. Traditional media design in visual communication lacks to disseminate information more effectively, which requires innovative change. Therefore, this study attempts to highlight the role of innovative application of new media in visual communication by considering visual expression design with information technology (IT), flexible layout, diversified modes of transmission, and interactivity of integration. For this purpose, this study adopted a quantitative research approach in which a cross-sectional research design is followed. A questionnaire survey is carried out to collect data from educational institutions in China. Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) is used for data analysis. Results of the study indicated that innovative applications of new media have central importance in visual communication. However, resistance to innovative change has a negative role in the relationship between innovative applications of new media and visual communication design. Results of the study highlighted that visual expression design with IT, flexible layout, diversified modes of transmission, and interactivity of integration have a positive effect on visual communication design. Therefore, among the educational intuitions of China, implementing innovative applications related to the new media can lead to visual communication design. The results of this study provided several insights for the practitioners to promote communication methods among educational institutions.
Effects of alternate nostril breathing exercise on respiratory functions in healthy young adults leading stressful lifestyle

Jahan I, Begum M, Akhter S, Islam MZ, Jahan N, Haque M

J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol, 2020 03 19;27(1):e104-e114.
PMID: 32320171 DOI: 10.15586/jptcp.v27i1.668

Alternate nostril breathing (ANB) is one of the best and easiest breathing exercises (pranayama) of yoga that are good for health and physical fitness. ANB exercise has beneficial and therapeutic effects on respiratory function in both normal as well as diseased humans. This study was conducted with the objective of assessing the physiological effects of short-term ANB exercise on respiratory function in healthy adult individuals leading a stressful life. This prospective interventional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Chittagong Medical College (CMC), Chattogram, Bangladesh from July 2017 to June 2018. A total of 100 participants aged 18-20 years, studying in the first year in CMC, were included by using a simple random sampling method. Among them, 50 participants were enrolled in the experimental group. Age- and BMI-matched 50 participants constituted the control group. Height, weight were measured, and BMI was calculated. The participants of the experimental group performed ANB exercise over 4 weeks for 10 min/day. The control participants were neither trained nor allowed to practice nostril breathing during the whole study period. Respiratory parameters like forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1st second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were measured by using a digital spirometer (Chest graph HI-101, Japan). Readings were taken in a healthy upright sitting posture in the control and experimental group initially and after 4 weeks. Student's t-test was conducted by using SPSS for windows version-23. The mean value of FVC, FEV1, PEFR were significantly (P < 0.001) changed after the ANB exercise when compared to the values before breathing exercise. The results of this study suggest that respiratory function is significantly improved after the ANB exercise. Therefore, ANB can be recommended for increasing respiratory efficiency.
Enhanced amperometric detection of paracetamol by immobilized cobalt ion on functionalized MWCNTs - Chitosan thin film

Akhter S, Basirun WJ, Alias Y, Johan MR, Bagheri S, Shalauddin M, et al.

Anal Biochem, 2018 06 15;551:29-36.
PMID: 29753720 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2018.05.004

In the present study, a nanocomposite of f-MWCNTs-chitosan-Co was prepared by the immobilization of Co(II) on f-MWCNTs-chitosan by a self-assembly method and used for the quantitative determination of paracetamol (PR). The composite was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX). The electroactivity of cobalt immobilized on f-MWCNTs-chitosan was assessed during the electro-oxidation of paracetamol. The prepared GCE modified f-MWCNTs/CTS-Co showed strong electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of PR. The electrochemical performances were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Under favorable experimental conditions, differential pulse voltammetry showed a linear dynamic range between 0.1 and 400 μmol L-1 with a detection limit of 0.01 μmol L-1 for the PR solution. The fabricated sensor exhibited significant selectivity towards PR detection. The fabricated sensor was successfully applied for the determination of PR in commercial tablets and human serum sample.
Fulltext Role of geopolitical risk, currency fluctuation, and economic policy on tourist arrivals: temporal analysis of BRICS economies

Reivan-Ortiz GG, Cong PT, Wong WK, Ali A, Thu HTT, Akhter S

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2023 Jul;30(32):78339-78352.
PMID: 37269525 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27736-1

The tourism industry is vulnerable to a range of economic and political factors, which can have both short-term and long-term impacts on tourist arrivals. The study aims to investigate the temporal dynamics of these factors and their impact on tourist arrivals. The method employed is a panel data regression analysis, using data from BRICS economies over a period of 1980-2020. The dependent variable is the number of tourist arrivals, while the independent variables are geopolitical risk, currency fluctuation, and economic policy. Control variables such as GDP, exchange rate, and distance to major tourist destinations are also included. The results show that geopolitical risk and currency fluctuation have a significant negative impact on tourist arrivals, while economic policy has a positive impact. The study also finds that the impact of geopolitical risk is stronger in the short term, while the impact of economic policy is stronger in the long term. Additionally, the study shows that the effects of these factors on tourist arrivals vary across BRICS countries. The policy implications of this study suggest that BRICS economies need to develop proactive economic policies that promote stability and encourage investment in the tourism industry.
Electrochemical assisted enhanced nanozymatic activity of functionalized borophene for H2O2 and tetracycline detection

Ahmed SR, Sherazee M, Das P, Shalauddin M, Akhter S, Basirun WJ, et al.

Biosens Bioelectron, 2024 Feb 15;246:115857.
PMID: 38029708 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115857

This study unveils the electrochemically-enhanced nanozymatic activity exhibited by borophene during the reaction of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and H2O2. Herein, the surface of the pristine borophene was first modified with the addition of thiocyanate groups to improve hydroxyl radical (•OH) scavenging activity. Then, the oxidation reaction of TMB was accelerated under applied electrochemical potential. Both factors significantly improved the detection limit and drastically decreased the detection time. DPPH testing revealed that the radical scavenging nature of borophene was more than 70%, boosting its catalytic activity. In the presence of H2O2, borophene catalyzed the oxidation of TMB and produced a blue-colored solution that was linearly correlated with the concentration of H2O2 and allowed for the detection of H2O2 up to 38 nM. The present finding was further extended to nanozymatic detection of tetracyclines (TCs) using a target-specific aptamer, and the results were colorimetrically quantifiable up to 1 μM with a LOD value of 150 nM. Moreover, transferring the principles of the discussed detection method to form a portable and disposable paper-based system enabled the quantification of TCs up to 0.2 μM. All the sensing experiments in this study indicate that the nanozymatic activity of borophene has significantly improved under electrochemical potential compared to conventional nanozyme-based colorimetric detection. Hence, the present discovery of electrochemically-enhanced nanozymatic activity would be promising for various sensitive and time-dependent colorimetric sensor development initiatives in the future.
A higher infection rate of Toxoplasma gondii in soft ticks infesting domestic hens: A novel report from Pakistan

Khan B, Batool S, Shahnawaz S, Ullah S, Naeem M, Habiba U, et al.

Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports, 2025 Jan;57:101147.
PMID: 39855880 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101147

Ticks are the second most important hematophagous ectoparasites after mosquitoes and serve as vectors for various pathogens, transmitting them to wild and domestic animals, as well as humans. Argas persicus are the soft ticks that are known to parasitize domestic poultry. Hard ticks are known to be the reservoir of Toxoplasma (T.) gondii but limited such information is available for soft ticks. This study reports the molecular prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of T. gondii infecting Argas (A.) persicus ticks (N = 70), collected from four domestic poultry breeds in the Kurram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, between June and August 2023. The results showed that 26 out of 70 (37 %) A. persicus samples tested positive for the ITS-1 gene of T. gondii. These findings were confirmed by the DNA sequencing and BLAST analysis of amplified amplicons. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Pakistani isolates were genetically diverse and clustered with isolates that were reported from birds and mammals from Pakistan, Tunisia, Malaysia, Brazil and Iraq. Risk factor analysis indicated that the prevalence of T. gondii was not associated with any specific poultry breed, sampling period, or the body temperature of the fowl hosts. Similarly parasite prevalence was not found associated with tick sex or their developmental stage but parasite infection rate varied with the feeding status of the ticks; highest T. gondii infection rate was observed in fully fed Argas persicus. In conclusion, this is the first report from Pakistan highlighting a high prevalence of T. gondii in A. persicus infesting domestic poultry suggesting a potential zoonotic risk to humans through the consumption of infected poultry. This data is confirming that in addition to oral ingestion of oocysts, T. gondii can be mechanically transmitted through soft ticks.
Fulltext Delivering remote pulmonary rehabilitation in Bangladesh: a mixed-method feasibility study

Habib GMM, Uzzaman N, Rabinovich R, Akhter S, Sultana M, Ali M, et al.

J Glob Health, 2025 Feb 14;15:04002.
PMID: 39946559 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.15.04002

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an effective and essential component of care for the increasing number of individuals with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs). Despite the benefits, it remains underutilised and poorly accessible in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to determine the feasibility of delivering PR in Bangladesh at home because of pandemic travel restrictions.
METHODS: Aligned with the Medical Research Council framework of development and evaluation of complex interventions, we recruited individuals with CRDs from the Community Respiratory Centre, Khulna, to a mixed-methods feasibility study. We assessed their functional exercise capacity and quality of life before and after an eight-week course of home PR, and conducted semi-structured interviews with PR providers and professional stakeholders by using a topic guide aligned with the normalisation process theory (NPT) and interpreting the findings within its constructs.
RESULTS: We recruited 51 out of 61 referred patients with a range of CRDs, of whom 44 (86%) completed ≥70% of their home PR course. Functional exercise capacity, measured by the endurance shuttle walk test, improved in 78% of patients, with 48% exceeding the minimum clinically important difference (MCID). Health-related quality of life, measured by the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test, improved by more than the MCID in 83% of patients. Through the interviews, we found that PR providers encountered challenges in remote video supervision due to unstable internet connections, forcing them to resort to telephone calls. The strength of support for NPT constructs varied; many participants understood and appreciated the role of PR and could make sense of the innovation (NPT-1), and most were assessing the potential of a PR service in Bangladesh to decide if it was worthwhile (NPT-4). Participants were not yet ready to endorse or actively support (NPT-2) or operationalise (NPT-3) the roll-out of PR.
CONCLUSIONS: A home PR programme, supported by remote supervision and monitoring, is feasible in Bangladesh, but local evidence will be needed to promote implementation.
Fulltext Effects of alternate nostril breathing exercise on cardiorespiratory functions in healthy young adults

Jahan I, Begum M, Akhter S, Islam MZ, Jahan N, Samad N, et al.

Ann Afr Med, 2021 7 3;20(2):69-77.
PMID: 34213471 DOI: 10.4103/aam.aam_114_20

Introduction: Alternate nostril breathing (ANB) is an effective breathing exercise with therapeutic benefits on cardiorespiratory functions for healthy and diseased individuals. This study was conducted to assess the effects of ANB exercise on cardiorespiratory tasks in healthy adults.
Materials and Methods: This randomized experimental study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Chittagong Medical College, Chattogram, from July 2017 to June 2018. A total of 100 1st-year students, aged between 18 and 20 years, were included by a random sampling method. Fifty participants (25 males and 25 females) were enrolled in the experimental group, while age- and body mass index-matched another 50 participants (25 males and 25 females) served as the control group. Experimental group participants performed ANB exercise for 4 weeks. Cardiorespiratory parameters (pulse rate, blood pressure, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1st s [FEV1], and peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] were measured. Data were taken at the start and after 4 weeks in both groups.
Results: Independent t-test showed no significant differences in the cardiorespiratory functions between the experimental and control groups among the male and female participants, except for the females' PEFR which showed small differences. On the other hand, repeated measure ANOVA shows significant improvement in the experimental groups among males (P < 0.001-0.028) and females (P < 0.001-0.001) in all the cardiorespiratory functions measured, except for the FEV1 and PEFR among males.
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that cardiorespiratory functions were improved after breathing exercise, and therefore, ANB can be recommended for increasing cardiorespiratory efficiency.
Fulltext Clinical Characteristics and Diagnostic Challenges of COVID-19: An Update From the Global Perspective

Israfil SMH, Sarker MMR, Rashid PT, Talukder AA, Kawsar KA, Khan F, et al.

Front Public Health, 2020;8:567395.
PMID: 33505949 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.567395

Clinical characteristics are essential for the correct diagnosis of diseases. The current review aimed to summarize the global clinical characteristics of the COVID-19 patients systematically and identify their diagnostic challenges to help the medical practitioners properly diagnose and for better management of COVID-19 patients. We conducted a systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases for original articles containing clinical information of COVID-19 published up to 7th May 2020. Two researchers independently searched the databases to extract eligible articles. A total of 34 studies from 8 different countries with 10889 case-patients were included for clinical characteristics. The most common clinical symptoms were cough 59.6, fever 46.9, fatigue 27.8, and dyspnea 20.23%. The prominent laboratory findings were lymphocytopenia 55.9, elevated levels of CRP 61.9, aspartate aminotransferase 53.3, LDH 40.8, ESR 72.99, serum ferritin 63, IL-6 52, and prothrombin time 35.47%, and decreased levels of platelets 17.26, eosinophils 59.0, hemoglobin 29, and albumin 38.4%. CT scan of the chest showed an abnormality in 93.50% cases with bilateral lungs 71.1%, ground-glass opacity 48%, lesion in lungs 78.3%, and enlargement of lymph node 50.7%. Common comorbidities were hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. The estimated median incubation period was 5.36 days, and the overall case fatality rate was 16.9% (Global case fatality outside China was 22.24%: USA 21.24%, Italy 25.61%, and others 0%; whereas the case fatality inside the Hubei Province of China was found to be 11.71%). Global features on the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 obtained from laboratory tests and CT scan results will provide useful information to the physicians to diagnose the disease and for better management of the patients as well as to address the diagnostic challenges to control the infection.

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