Study of Microgastrinae Nees 1814 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Bangladesh

Three genera of Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) have been described and illustrated from Bangladesh and a key for the genera was prepared. The genera are Apanteles Foerster, Microplitis Foerster, and Protomicroplitis Ashmead. The genus Protomicroplitis is the new record to the fauna of Bangladesh. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cujbs.v6i1-2.17240 The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci.,Vol. 6(1&2):147-158, 2011

Isolation, identification and characterization of four cellulolytic actinomycetes and their cellulases

Four highly cellulolytic actinomycetous isolates namely SG1, SG2, SG3 and SS1 were isolated from soil samples and provisionally identified as Streptomyces almquistii, S. caeruleus , S. hirsutus and S. endus, respectively. All the isolates showed heavy growth and liquefaction at 50?C and pH 6.5 in Winstead’s medium having 1.2% of CMC. The isolates were allowed to grow in Winstead’s medium having Asparagine as a nitrogen source with different carbon sources for the maximum production of cellulases. The extracellular protein of the culture supernatant ranged from 1.14 ?g /ml (SG1) to 879.39 ?g /ml (SG3). The reducing sugar level of the culture supernatant ranged from 0.76 ?g /ml (SG2) to 558.33 ?g /ml (SG1). The highest CMC-ase activity (1431.81U/ml) was found with the crude enzyme of the strain SG3. The highest FP-ase activity (1087.11 U/ml) and Avicelase activity (1287.87U/ml) were found with the crude enzyme of SS1. To detrermine the optimum nitrogen sources, the isolates were allowed to grow in Winstead’s medium having saw dust for SG1 and SG3, dry leaf for SS1 and SG2 as a carbon source with different nitrogen sources for the maximum production of cellulases. The extracellular protein of the culture supernatant ranged from 35.50 ?g /ml (SG1) to 328.62 ?g /ml (SS1) and the reducing sugar level of the culture supernatant ranged from 3.79 ?g /ml (SG1) to 114.39 ?g /ml (SG3). However the highest CMC-ase activity (1353.78 U/ml), and FP-ase activity (215.90 U/ml) were found with the crude enzyme of the strain SG2 and Avicelase activity (356.06U/ml) was found with the crude enzyme of the isolate SS1 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cujbs.v6i1-2.17241 The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci.,Vol. 6(1&2):159-173, 2011

Phosphorus status of some representative cultivated soils of Hathazari Upazilla, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

not available DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cujbs.v6i1-2.17245 The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci.,Vol. 6(1&2):199-203, 2011

Soil fertility status of some mango orchards in Chittagong Hill Tracts

Major physico-chemical properties of mango orchard soils (Mangifera indica L.) in different sites of three hill districts, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban were evaluated. Soils were sandy loam in texture at all the sites except foot hill soil of Shapchari. Soil pH, organic matter, total N and available P varied from 4.76 to 5.58, 1.43 to 2.49 %, 0.10 to 0.16 %, 0.86 mg kg-1 to 2.69 mg kg-1 soil, respectively in surface soil of different sites of mango orchard. 1N NH4OAc extractable K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ ranged from 0.35 to 0.82, 2.50 to 3.66 and 0.60 to 1.57 cmol kg-1 of soils. Soil pH, organic matter, total N and available P varied significantly among the slope positions within the sites. Similar results were found in case of 1N NH4OAc extractable K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+. The soils are generally poor in organic matter and nutrients. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cujbs.v6i1-2.17244 The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci.,Vol. 6(1&2):187-197, 2011

Prevalence of Multidrug resistant Staphylococcus Aureus isolates in Clinical specimens collected from local patients of Chittagong, Bangladesh

To observe the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus a total of 1078 blood, pus and miscellaneous samples (sputum, swab and body fluids) were collected among which 478 samples exhibited bacterial growth on agar medium. Out of growth positive 300 pus samples, 116(38.67%) showed the growth of Gram positive cocci, of which 30(25.86%) were Staphylococcus aureus positive. In case of blood, the number of growth positive samples were 116(28.45%), of which 33(12.12%) showed the presence of Gram positive cocci including 4 Staphylococcus aureus. Among the 62 growth positive miscellaneous samples, the number of Gram positive cocci and Staphylococcus aureus positive samples were 22(35.48%) and 4(18.18%), respectively. From the antibiogram of 38 Staphylococcus aureus isolates, 26 were found multidrug resistant, showing resistance against two or more of the antibiotics used namely ampicillin, cefradine, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin, whereas all the isolates were sensitive to vancomycin. The MIC and MBC of these antibiotics against different Staphylococcus aureus isolates were determined, which were found to range from 2?g/ml to 8?g/ml and 4?g/ml to 16?g/ml, respectively, in case of vancomycin. The rate of resistance against ampicillin, cefradine, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin were 92.1%, 60%, 58.1% and 59.35%, respectively. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cujbs.v6i1-2.17242 The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci.,Vol. 6(1&2):175-185, 2011

Attitude toward eve teasing

The present study was conducted to measure the attitude toward eve teasing. For this purpose a scale was developed in Likert format. The scale consisted of 10 statements in Bangla. Based on preliminary scrutinizing and expert judgment for face validity, 29 statements were administered to 100 males and 100 females for items analysis. Of the total 29 statements 10 were found to have significant item total correlation (?= .01 to 0.05) and were retained in the final scale. For measuring reliability of this split half 0.52 and chronbach’s alpha 0.56 were computed. This scale was then administered to 200 people (100 males and 100 females) living in different areas of Dhaka city. The obtained data were analyzed by using ANOVA. The data revealed that the interaction effect of gender levels and education was found significant. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cujbs.v6i1-2.17237 The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci.,Vol. 6(1&2):107-118, 2011

Mental health status of primary school children of Chittagong town

A total of 197 respondents (129 parents of boys and 68 parents of girls) constituted the sample of the study. To measure mental health status, Bengali version of (Mullick, 2001) Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used for the collection of data which was originally developed by Michael Rutter and Robert Goodman. Purposive sampling procedure was used for this purpose. The results showed that about 20.3% students had pro-social problem and 19.3% students were in borderline level in pro-social behavior. Only 0.5% students had Peer problems and 15.7% students were found at borderline level of this problem. About 6.6% students had hyperactivity problem and about 5.6% students were found at borderline level of this problem. About 1.5% students had Emotional symptom problem and 0.5% students were found at borderline level. About 19.3% students had conduct problem and 23.9% students were in borderline level of this problem. About 27.4% students were facing total difficulties problems and 38.1% students were in borderline level. In terms of above all mental health status, boys were found to have more problems than girls. But no significant differences were found between boys and girls at any dimension score or even total difficulties score. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cujbs.v6i1-2.17238 The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci.,Vol. 6(1&2):119-133, 2011

Taxonomy of Bassinae (=Agathidinae Nees 1814) Nees 1812 in Bangladesh

Two genera of Bassinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) have been described and illustrated from Bangladesh and a key was prepared. The genera are: Agathis Latreille and Bassus Fabricius newly recorded from Bangladesh. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cujbs.v6i1-2.17239 The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci.,Vol. 6(1&2):135-146, 2011

Glucose status in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in different meningitic children in a hospital in Chittagong, Bangladesh

Meningitis is referred to as an inflammatory process of the leptomeninges and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the sub-arachnoid space of the brain. We have investigated glucose status in CSF in different types of meningitis together with detailed medical history in children. In addition, we have also carried out the detailed cytological and microbiological examinations. A total of 40 subjects were investigated. We observed that the glucose level was significantly decreased (<20 mg/dl) in 65%, moderately decreased (20-40 mg/dl) in 20% and mildly decreased (40-50mg/dl) in 15% of the patients in our study. Patients with Pyogenic meningitis had tremendously reduced glucose level (9.0 mg/dl) in their CSF whereas in viral meningitis the CSF glucose level is highly variable (10 to 65 mg/dl). Furthermore, 5 (12.5%) patients showed high lymphocyte counts and 34 (85%) patients showed high neutrophil counts. Interestingly, in Pyogenic meningitis, the neutrophil count was very high compared to that in viral meningitis. The present study clearly demonstrates that biochemical parameters such as glucose level in CSF might be a potential tool for detecting meningitis and as well as differentiation of the different types of meningitis. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cujbs.v6i1-2.17080 The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci.,Vol. 6(1&2):41-49, 2011

Effects of some indigenous plant seed extracts on the Haematology of a predatory fish Singhi Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

Haemolytic effects of different extracts of five indigenous plant seeds viz. Datura innoxia (Mill) (Shada Dhutra), Clerodendrum viscosum (Vent.) (Vat), Amoora rohituka (Roxb.) Wt. ct. Arnott (Pitraj), Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. Ex. Benth. (Akashmoni) and Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (Karinja) were studied upon a predatory fish, Singhi, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) under laboratory conditions. Toxicants inducing effects on the blood parameters included decreased RBC and WBC counts, low haemoglobin percentage and decreased PCV (packed cell volume), MCV (mean corpuscular volume) and MCH (mean corpuscular haemoglobin). Haemolysis action included shrunken or swollen RBCs, granulated nuclei of RBCs and pyknotic nuclei of WBCs, clumping of RBCs and syncitium of RBC matrix. Damage of blood cells with absolute ethyl alcohol extract was most pronounced with all of the seed extracts. The order of toxicity of the five seed extracts on the blood parameters of Singhi was: D. innoxia < A. auriculaerformis < P. pinnata < C. viscosum < A. rohituka seed extracts. On the basis of haemolysis the toxicity was: A. rohituka > C. viscosum > P. pinnata > D. innoxia > A. auriculiformis seed extracts. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cujbs.v6i1-2.17078 The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci.,Vol. 6(1&2):11-25, 2011