Life Sciences Research Articles

Validation of ERP software and system architectures in a GxP controlled environment

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is a software system which integrates all the business processes to run a company successfully. These software systems are widely used across all the industries like Manufacturing, Retail, Life Sciences, Banking and Finance etc. However, for pharmaceutical companies, the ERP systems must comply with GxP regulations which poses unique challenges. This whitepaper explores how to design and implement the software architecture of an ERP system in a GxP controlled environment.

Knowledge and awareness among dental and life science students towards research: A questionnaire based cross-sectional study

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes towards research and explore career interests among dental and life science students following their participation in an internship training program in bioresearch. The materials and methods involved a questionnaire-based survey conducted among CRI (Compulsory rotatory internship) dental students, postgraduate MDS students, and life science students who took part in the internship program organized by the Central Research Laboratory. Prior to the internship, participants were administered the questionnaire. The results revealed an overall research knowledge rate of 66% among participants, with CRI dental students demonstrating a higher rate at 72%. Additionally, 72% of the participants expressed positive views regarding research as a viable career option in their respective fields. This study primarily aimed to analyse research knowledge and attitudes among dental and life science students. Findings indicated a strong interest in research among students, highlighting the importance of targeted training in biomedicine and statistics. In conclusion, the study suggests that tailored training programs focusing on research methodology and statistics would be beneficial for medical and dental students entering the field.

The Effect of Student-Centered Teaching Methods and Techniques on Academic Achievement in Life Sciences Teaching: A Meta-Analysis Study

In this study, it was aimed to determine the general effect of student-centered teaching on students' academic achievement in life science teaching. For this purpose, 25 theses scanned in YÖK Thesis Center, having open access permission and methodologically meeting the criteria for inclusion in meta-analysis constituted the data of this study. From 25 thesis studies, 26 effect values were calculated by meta-analysis method. Cohen's g value was used to determine the effect values. The studies included in the meta-analysis were first tested for publication bias using the Rosenthal method and funnel plot. In addition, Z value, significance of Z value, Q value and chi-square distribution values at 25 degrees of freedom were used to decide the meta-analysis model. It was found that the studies included in the meta-analysis did not show publication bias and were heterogeneously distributed. Accordingly, meta-analysis was conducted according to the random effects model. According to the findings obtained in the study, it was seen that each study included in the analysis independently positively affected students' academic achievement. It was determined that the overall effect size of the studies integrated according to the random effects model was 1.028. From this point of view, it was concluded that student-centered teaching methods and techniques in life science teaching have a large positive effect on students' academic achievement.

Explanation, teleology, and analogy in natural history and comparative anatomy around 1800: Kant and Cuvier

This paper investigates conceptions of explanation, teleology, and analogy in the works of Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) and Georges Cuvier (1769–1832). Richards (2000, 2002) and Zammito (2006, 2012, 2018) have argued that Kant's philosophy provided an obstacle for the project of establishing biology as a proper science around 1800. By contrast, Russell (1916), Outram (1986), and Huneman (2006, 2008) have argued, similar to suggestions from Lenoir (1989), that Kant's philosophy influenced the influential naturalist Georges Cuvier. In this article, I wish to expand on and further the work of Russell, Outram, and Huneman by adopting a novel perspective on Cuvier and considering (a) the similar conceptions of proper science and explanation of Kant and Cuvier, and (b) the similar conceptions of the role of teleology and analogy in the works of Kant and Cuvier. The similarities between Kant and Cuvier show, contrary to the interpretation of Richards and Zammito, that some of Kant's philosophical ideas, whether they derived from him or not, were fruitfully applied by some life scientists who wished to transform life sciences into proper sciences around 1800. However, I also show that Cuvier, in contrast to Kant, had a workable strategy for transforming the life sciences into proper sciences, and that he departed from Kant's philosophy of science in crucial respects.

A generative benchmark for evaluating the performance of fluorescent cell image segmentation

Fluorescent cell imaging technology is fundamental in life science research, offering a rich source of image data crucial for understanding cell spatial positioning, differentiation, and decision-making mechanisms. As the volume of this data expands, precise image analysis becomes increasingly critical. Cell segmentation, a key analysis step, significantly influences quantitative analysis outcomes. However, selecting the most effective segmentation method is challenging, hindered by existing evaluation methods' inaccuracies, lack of graded evaluation, and narrow assessment scope. Addressing this, we developed a novel framework with two modules: StyleGAN2-based contour generation and Pix2PixHD-based image rendering, producing diverse, graded-density cell images. Using this dataset, we evaluated three leading cell segmentation methods: DeepCell, CellProfiler, and CellPose. Our comprehensive comparison revealed CellProfiler's superior accuracy in segmenting cytoplasm and nuclei. Our framework diversifies cell image data generation and systematically addresses evaluation challenges in cell segmentation technologies, establishing a solid foundation for advancing research and applications in cell image analysis.

Effect of Psychoeducation on Mental Health among Caregivers of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a progressive and debilitating chronic illness that results in irreversible loss of kidney function. Nowadays, caregiving is the central role for patients who are suffering from chronic disease worldwide. Considering this, the present study was conducted to investigate the psychoeducational impact on the mental health of those who care for patients with CKD. A pre-test and post-test method of the quasi-experimental design was employed to conduct the study on a total number of 60 participants (experimental group 30 and control group 30). Participants’ age range was 18 to 59 years and mean and standard deviation were respectively 30.28 and 9.86. An adapted Bangla version of the General Health Questionnaire-28 and Psychoeducation Materials (developed by Hossain et al., 2023) were administered to the participants. Participants were selected purposively from the National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology (NIKDU) of Dhaka city. The obtained data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, mean, standard deviation, t-test, etc. Results indicate that there was a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group in mental health problems (t = 4.274, p < .05). Results also revealed that there were significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in somatic problems (t = 2.412, p < .05), anxiety and insomnia (t = 3.614, p < .05), social dysfunctions (t = 2.916, p < .05) and severe depression (t = 2.588, p < .05) among caregivers of patients with CKD. The findings of the present study indicate that after the psychoeducational training, mental health problems were better than mental health problems before the psychoeducational training. The implications of the findings have been discussed in light of research evidence from earlier research. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(2): 179–194, 2023 (December)

Effect of Psychoeducation on Reducing Burden Among Primary Caregivers of People with Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious psychological illness that needs long-term treatment. Family members, especially those who care for a patient at home, experience the burden of providing long-term care. Psychoeducational intervention may enhance the caregiver’s outcomes. The major goal of the study was to explore the effect of psychoeducation on reducing the burden among primary carers of people with schizophrenia. In this study, thirty-two participants (32 caregivers) were purposefully selected based on the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). A personal information form and the Bangla version of the Zarit Burden Interview scale were administered. Total participants were divided by simple randomization into two groups (i.e., experimental and control groups). Following the baseline evaluation by questionnaire, the experimental group of 16 caregivers received two sessions of psychoeducation, but the control group of the same number of caregivers did not. The effectiveness of psychoeducation was evaluated using a pretest-posttest control group design. Findings suggested that psychoeducation decreased the level of burden, and after the intervention, the mean score of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group. These findings found that the psychoeducation intervention had a positive outcome in reducing the burden on caregivers of patients who deal with schizophrenia. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(1): 81–94, 2023 (June)

Collection Practices and Socio-Economic Status of Crab Collectors at Shyamnagar Upazila, Satkhira Distrct in Bangladesh

This study evaluated the mud crab (Scylla olivacea) collection techniques and socio-economic conditions of crab collectors in Shyamnagar Upazila. The results showed that 48% of the collectors collected crabs from the Sundarbans mangrove forest; on the other hand, 42% of the crab collectors collected crabs from coastal rivers, and 10% collected crabs from canals and shrimp farms. In the study area, 63% of crab collectors used doon with Cuchia fish as bait, 6.66% used thopa with Tilapia fish as bait, and the rest used net or hand-picking techniques to collect crabs. Most crab collectors were Muslims (56.9%), and the rest were Hindu (43.1%) regarding religious belief. Regarding gender, 58.1% of crab collectors were female, whereas 41.9% were male. Almost half of crab collectors (41.9%) had no institutional education. In this area, 33.72% were landless and lived on ‘Khas’ land. A significant number of people (29.5%) were married at an early age. The crab collectors (36.2%) earned less than Tk. 200 daily. Natural calamities and other constraints are making the livelihood of crab collectors vulnerable, but they are trying to continue their occupation to sustain their lives. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(1): 57–68, 2023 (June)

Formulation and Cell Viability Assessment of Microparticles of Isolated Lactobacillus sp. with Alginate-Chitosan Solution

This study was performed to isolate the probiotic Lactobacillus sp. from dairy products available in Dhaka to form microparticles with isolated Lactobacillus probiotic bacteria and determine cell viability. Depending on their biological and physical traits and selective growth in MRS agar and MRS broth medium, the isolates were recognized as Lactobacillus spp. Major biochemical tests and growth at different temperatures were taken into account for the identification of the isolates. Low pH tolerance, homo- or hetero-fermentative activity, hydrolysis of arginine, and antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted to assess probiotic activity. Among several isolates of Lactobacillus sp., four showed considerable tolerance to lower pH (pH 3.0) and growth at different temperatures (15 to 37°C). They were resistant to common antibiotics like penicillin (10µg), gentamicin (30µg), tetracycline (30µg), chloramphenicol (30µg), erythromycin (15µg) and streptomycin (30µg). The isolates were shown to have superior probiotic capabilities and may be employed as possible probiotic microorganisms after comparing all probiotic features evaluated in this experiment. The capacity of probiotic bacterial cells to survive when stored and in gastrointestinal transit is difficult to maintain. As a solution to these obstacles, microparticles were formulated with sodium alginate and chitosan. The cell viability check of the microparticles was continued for two weeks, and the response positively indicated increased stability. The results show promise for the encapsulation of the isolates. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(1): 69–80, 2023 (June)

Selfitis Behaviour as Predictor of Psychological Distress among Students of Dhaka City

Selfie is an interesting self-portrait phenomenon that has changed young people's communication and leisure time. Instead of living in the present moment, people are busy clicking selfies and uploading them on social media, adversely impacting their psychological health. Thus, the present study was designed to explore the impact of selfitis behavior on psychological distress among students at various educational levels (i.e., schools, colleges, and universities). Data were collected purposively from 400 participants at different educational institutions situated in Dhaka city. A package of Bangla-adapted versions (Zaman and Konica, 2019) of measuring tools (i.e., selfitis behavior scale and psychological distress scale) and a personal information form were used to collect the necessary information regarding the study. Results revealed that selfitis behavior was positively correlated with psychological distress. The individual effect of selfitis behavior construct identified two significant predictors (i.e., environmental enhancement and attention seeking), which jointly explained 12.6% of the variance in psychological distress. Here, the strongest predictor of psychological distress was attention-seeking, which alone explained 10.3% of the variance in psychological distress. Further, results also revealed that the three significant demographic predictors (i.e., socioeconomic status, daily selfie-taking, and educational qualification) jointly explained 16.1% of the variance in psychological distress. These results suggest valuable insights for researchers, educators, and educational counselors dealing with these concerns. Additionally, the findings would aid psychologists, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders in comprehending the factors contributing to psychological distress. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(2): 133-146, 2023 (December)

Relative Abundance, Diversity and Threats of Avian Fauna at Dhanmondi Lake in Dhaka, Bangladesh

A study was conducted on the relative abundance, diversity, and threats of avifauna in Dhanmondi Lake, Dhaka, Bangladesh from March to December 2021. Data was collected by following the line transect sampling method and direct field observations, where four days were spent every month in the study area. A total of 34 species of birds were observed, belonging to 9 orders and 20 families. Out of 34 species of birds, 94% were residents and 6% were migrants; of them, 55% were non-passerines and 45% were passerines. The relative abundance of avifauna was also estimated as 29% of species being very common, 15% being fairly common, 27% being common, and 29% being few. The highest number of individuals was observed in December (209 individuals), followed by 199 individuals in April, 189 individuals in March, 187 individuals in October, 178 in November, 177 in August, and 170 in June. The Shannon-Weiner index was estimated to be at its maximum (H′ = 2.98) in March-21, and its minimum value was obtained (H′ = 2.62) in June-21. Similarly, the value of Simpson’s index of diversity was obtained to be maximum (D = 0.09) in June-21 and minimum (D = 0.06) in December-21. Human activities such as large gatherings, random assemblies, festivals, dumping of waste, throwing of papers, polythene, and plastics here and there, and finally, noises from the different vehicles, were identified as major threats to avian species. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(1): 95–109, 2023 (June)

Farmers’ Knowledge, Attitude and Experience in the Application and Management of Pesticides

A survey was conducted on some vegetable farmers from a few selected vegetable growing areas in Bangladesh to know their social aspects, pesticide knowledge, practices, safety measures, resources and effects of pesticides. A survey questionnaire was developed and sent to 90 randomly selected vegetable farmers to determine to what extent they used pesticides. Almost 87% of the farmers’ stored pesticides in their houses without safety consideration but only about 13% used special storage. About 78.7% of farmers never read the label before applying pesticides. The most protective clothes reported by the farmers were nose masks (18.2%), and about three-fourths (71.7%) of them did not use any protective clothing. The majority (61.8%) of the farmers threw away their empty containers, and only 16.9% burned them. The majority of farmers (92.1%) applied pesticides as both curative and preventive measures. Almost all farmers reported that infested pests were identified by themselves by observing damage to flowers & fruits (86.5%) and leaves & green parts (13.5%). Most of the farmers (64%) selected pesticides for controlling pests by themselves, and 28.1% with the help of experienced farmers. Nearly 45.0% of respondents have moderate knowledge, and 44.8% have good knowledge in pesticide application and management. The most common pesticide related illnesses and injuries reported by respondents were headache/dizziness (44.9%), weakness (33.7%), stomach cramps (29.2%), and blue-red vision (16.9%). Only 23.6% of farmers observed that pesticides decrease plant yield, and 18.0% of farmers knew that pesticides destroy soil microorganisms. As the environment and human health were poorly considered, only 19.1% of respondents were bio-pesticides, 4.5% were organic pesticides, 2.2% were non-persistence pesticides, and 2.2% were natural enemy users. Respondents have very poor knowledge about modern pest control methods like beneficial microorganisms (4.7%), beneficial insects (3.5%), biological control of pests (3.5%), IPM (2.3%), SIT (1.2%), and GMO crops (1.2%). Farmers’ age was correlated negatively with education (r = -0.380) and positively with experience (r = 0.909, P < 0.01). Pesticide related illness and injuries had a significant correlation with age (r = 0.465) and experience (r = 0.395). Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(2): 111–124, 2023 (December)

Effect of Fluid Intelligence on Reading and Listening Abilities

The present study explored the effect of fluid intelligence on reading and listening abilities. A total of 50 undergraduate students (age ranging from 20 to 24 years) participated in this study. Data were collected using the shortened version of Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices, and the tests assessed reading and listening ability. The obtained data were analyzed using an independent sample t-test. Results indicated that individuals with high intelligence outperformed on reading and listening comprehension compared to individuals with low intelligence. However, no significant gender difference was observed in intelligence, reading ability, and listening ability (p > .05). The findings offer crucial allusions for educational institutions in designing the curriculum for students. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(1): 1-6, 2023 (June)

Pharmacological Profile Analysis of a Vegetable Crop Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Linn.) Seeds

The seeds of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Linn.) can be utilized as both a conventional and multifunctional dietary constituent. In this study the antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic effects of various fractions such as petroleum ether soluble fraction (PESF), chloroform soluble fraction (CFSF), dichloromethane soluble fraction (DCMSF), and aqueous soluble fraction (AQF) were obtained from crude extract (CE) of the C. maxima seeds were assessed by using 1,1-Diphenyl-2- Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method, disc diffusion technique, and brine shrimp lethality bioassay respectively. The results showed that all the fractions have remarkable antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic activities. The study revealed that both the AQF and PESF and the CF confirmed significant antioxidant properties. The antibacterial activity of different fractions against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was examined to determine their significant effect. PESF and CFSF fractions exhibited substantial inhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacteria, particularly Bacillus cereus. Bacillus subtilis exhibited significant susceptibility to both CFSF and AQF. Salmonella typhi and Shigella dysenteriae exhibited significant susceptibility to PESF and CFSF, while Escherichia coli was the Gram-negative bacterium most effectively inhibited by CFSF. The IC50 values revealed that the DCMSF exhibited the highest inhibitory activity, followed by other fractions. The new study emphasizes the significance of pumpkin seeds in terms of their pharmacological and biological properties, which may encourage more research on the potential benefits of this plant for human health. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(1): 7-18, 2023 (June)

Heterogeneric Diversity and Richness of Avifauna in a Degraded Landscape of Arial Beel in Bangladesh

Bird diversity and richness reflect the habitat quality of ecosystems. The species composition, diversity, and richness of birds were studied at Shologhar Union, a degraded landscape of Arial Beel, from March 2016 to February 2017, using line transect and point count methods. A total of 75 species of birds belonging to 14 orders and 35 families were recorded; most of them were residents (83%). Non-passerine birds were predominant (40 species, 53% of total species), with 18 families and 38 genera. Only one near-threatened species (Yellow Wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus) was recorded. Among resident birds, Baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus) was dominant, and the Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) was predominant among migratory birds. Most species were terrestrial (51 spp., 68% of total birds), contributing only 23% of the population. The individual rarefaction revealed the highest species richness in March and the lowest in May and June. The highest population was recorded in winter (38%), and insectivore species (40%) were the highest. No significant seasonal variation occurred in the richness of birds (Kruskal-Wallis test: K = 0.05 df = 2, p = 0.971) and in different feeding guilds (Kruskal-Wallis test: K = 0.86, df = 5, p = 0.65). Ardeidae and Sturnidae represented the highest diversified families (6 species in each, RDi = 8), and Baya Weaver contributed the highest (26%) population. The presence of different species of birds suggests that this site could provide a suitable habitat for wild birds, and restoration management of this part of Arial Beel should require conserving the habitat of avifauna. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(1): 19-44, 2023 (June)

Yield Performance Study of Bina Developed Sesame Varieties under Agro-Ecological Conditions of Mymensingh District in Bangladesh

An investigation was done during the Kharif-I (Summer) season 2022 at Sadar Upazilla of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh to explore the yield and factors affecting the yield of four sesame varieties developed by the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA). Three replications of a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) were used, where Binatil-1, Binatil-2, Binatil-3, and Binatil-4 were the varieties. The experiment's findings showed that Binatil-1 contained the tallest plant (107.00 cm), whereas Binatil-3 contained the shortest plant (79.55 cm). It was noted that Binatil-2 had the greatest number of plant-1 branches (4.95), whereas Binatil-1 had the least amount (2.14). Additionally, Binatil-3 displayed the highest number of plant-1 pods (95.65), whereas Binatil-1 provided the lowest amount (51.27). Binatil-1 had the largest pod (3.56 cm), whereas Binatil-4 had the smallest (2.57 cm). It was noted that Binatil-1 displayed the greatest count of seeds in pod-1 (78.15), while Binatil-4 displayed the least amount (61.12). The highest 1000 seed weight was obtained from Binatil-2 (3.15 g), whereas the lowest 1000 seed weight was recorded in Binatil-1 (2.95 g). The established genotype Binatil-2 had the maximum seed yield (1.42 t ha-1), whereas Binatil-1 had the least (1.27 t ha-1). Among the cultivars, Binatil-3 matured in the fewest days (87), whereas Binatil-2 required the most days (95). At Binatil-2, significant yield performance was found from the Kharif-I (summer) season experiment. A simple correlation was done where branches per plant per thousand seed weight had a significant positive correlation and pod breadth had a negative impact on seed yield for all genotypes. This experiment will be helpful for oil crop breeders and the farming community to choose promising sesame genotypes with high yield potential and future breeding stock. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(2): 125–132, 2023 (December)

Riverine Community Vulnerability to Flooding: An Insight from the Bramhaputra-Jamuna River at Harirampur Upazila, Manikganj

Bangladesh is one of the nations that has a distinctive environment for floods. Most of the land is low-lying, and 80% is a floodplain, making it highly susceptible to frequent flooding. This research aims to investigate the susceptibility of riverine communities to flooding and display the spatial distribution of vulnerability for the study region (Harirampur Upazila). A vulnerability assessment index is developed using multiple variables related to social, physical, and economic vulnerability. A quantitative survey is conducted to gather data on physical, social, and economic factors contributing to household vulnerability to floods. The results reveal that out of the five unions in Harirampur Upazila, Gopinathpur, and Lesraganj unions, they have been found to have a high vulnerability to flooding (vulnerability scores of 3.19 and 3.10, respectively). Kanchanpur Union is severely vulnerable to flooding (score 3.57). On the other hand, Gala Union is designated as a lowly vulnerable (score of 2.23) area, and Ramkrishnapur Union is classified as a moderately vulnerable (score of 2.83) area. Finally, this study would help to assign government and non-government initiatives following the vulnerability category during critical conditions of any disaster period. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(2): 195-214, 2023 (December)

Climate Change-Induced Livelihood Vulnerabilities in South Western Coastal Region of Bangladesh

This study focused on the impact of climate change on the livelihood of coastal people. The study used primary and secondary data to complete the study. The climatic components are changing gradually, consequently, the impact of adversity on livelihood is severe in coastal areas. This research has found the perceptions of coastal people regarding climate change and it’s devastation. Coastal people faced change-induced disasters such as cyclones, floods, tidal surges, salinity intrusion, and erosion that affected the coastal communities and their livelihoods. The study found people lost their livelihood sectors, especially agricultural activities, fish farms, fishing culture, cattle farms, business, daily working opportunities, and daily labor. However, due to the challenges during and after the disasters, they cannot easily resume their regular occupations and jobs, including agricultural activities, fishing farms, fishing and cropping businesses, daily labor, seasonal labor, and workers for fishing farms. Furthermore, the coastal people lost their property and lives, particularly settlements, agricultural land, and crops, to climate change-induced adversity. The marginal farmers and laborers are the main losers during and after disasters because they have no backup money for survival. Many of them took loans from local financial institutions and money lenders. The research will provide guidelines for the coastal community and policymakers to mitigate the impact of adversity. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(2): 163–178, 2023 (December)

Microbial Pollution with Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in the Buriganga River of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is located on the bank of the Buriganga River. Pollution of Buriganga river water with different types of waste containing antibiotic-resistant (AR) bacteria poses a threat to human health. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the physicochemical parameters, total aerobic bacterial count (TBC), total coliform count (TC), and antibiotic-resistant bacteria from waste disposal points located in the river seasonally. We collected 59 water samples from sewage waste (SW), 31 from industrial waste (IW), and 9 from hospital waste (HW) disposal sites during the wet (November to April) and dry (May to September) seasons in the Buriganga river. We found that water temperature, pH, BOD, and COD decreased, but water total dissolved solids (TDS) increased significantly in the dry season compared to the wet season. Bacteriological analysis showed that total TBC and TC were significantly increased in the dry season compared to the wet. Further analysis showed that TBC and TC from the water of SW and HW disposal sites increased in the dry season compared to the wet. However, TBC and TC from the water at IW disposal sites were not changed. These results indicate that SW and HW are the main contributors to the bacterial coliform contamination in the Buriganga River. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp., and Salmonella spp. isolates showed a high prevalence of resistance against commonly used antibiotics. It can be concluded that SW and HW might spread AR bacteria in the water of the Buriganga River, which causes a significant threat to humans and the environment. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(2): 215-226, 2023 (December)

The Role of Maternal Psychological Well-Being as a Predictor of Children’s Internalizing Behaviors

Nowadays, mothers' psychological well-being and behavioral outcomes in children have become a major topic of interest globally in the social and clinical arena. Though fathers play an important role in parenting, mothers are the key persons responsible for caring for their children. Thus, the present study investigated the relationship between maternal psychological well-being and their children's internalizing behaviors. This study also aimed to build up some models related to predictor and outcome variables based on the current research findings. A cross-sectional survey research design was employed to conduct the study on 800 participants (400 children and 400 mothers). The children were selected from ten Bangla medium high schools in Dhaka, and the age ranges of the children ranged from 11 to 13 years. The schools and the children were selected following a multistage random sampling technique. The self-reported Bangla version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the Bangla version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and a Personal Information Form (PIF) were administered to the participants to collect data. The correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between maternal psychological well-being and children's internalizing behavior. Results also revealed that somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression in mothers were significantly correlated with the internalizing behavior of children. Findings from multiple regression analysis indicated that the most powerful predictor of internalizing behavior was mothers' anxiety and insomnia, which independently explained 35% of the variance. The other significant predictors were social dysfunction, severe depression, and somatic symptoms. All four predictors jointly explained 40.6% of the variance in children's internalizing behavior. The implications of the findings have been discussed in light of theory and research evidence from earlier research. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(1): 45–56, 2023 (June)