Entrainment to light cycle is a prerequisite for circadian rhythms to set daily physiological events to occur at an appropriate time of day. In hemimetabolous insects, the photoreceptor molecule for photic entrainment is still unknown. Since the compound eyes are the only circadian photoreceptor in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, we have investigated the role of three opsin genes expressed there, opsin-Ultraviolet (opUV), opsin-Blue (opB), and opsin-Long Wave (opLW) encoding a green-sensitive opsin in photic entrainment. A daily rhythm was detected in mRNA expressions of opB and opLW but not of opUV gene. When photic entrainment of circadian locomotor rhythms was tested after injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of three opsin genes, no noticeable effects were found in opUV RNAi and opB RNAi crickets. In opLW RNAi crickets, however, some crickets lost photic entrainability and the remaining crickets re-entrained with significantly longer transient cycles to a phase-advanced light–dark cycle as compared to control crickets. Crickets often lost entrainability when treated doubly with dsRNAs of two opsin genes including opLW. These results show that green-sensitive OpLW is the major circadian photoreceptor molecule for photic entrainment of locomotor rhythms in the cricket G. bimaculatus. Our finding will lead to further investigation of the photic entrainment mechanism at molecular and cellular levels, which still remains largely unknown.

The aim of the study was to screen for the presence of antimicrobial residues in poultry eggs from Bangladesh using the Charm II radio-receptor assay in the absence of expensive confirmatory instrumentation. This was based on cut-off values as set in the validation guidelines according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808. Fortified eggs spiked with fixed concentrations of doxycycline, erythromycin A, sulphamethazine, and benzylpenicillin were used to determine the cut-off values and detection capabilities (CCβ). Other validation parameters included were applicability, ruggedness, and robustness. A total of 201 egg mix samples from native organic chicken, duck, and commercial farm-raised laying hens (both brown and white eggs) were tested and after analysis 13%, 10%, and 4.5% of the egg mix samples showed positive signals for sulphonamides, macrolides/lincosamides, and tetracyclines, respectively. Presence of multiple drug residues were also suspected in 11 out of 201 egg mix samples.

This study assessed different types of sharps and pathological waste generated from 10 major wards of a tertiary level hospital (Chittagong Medical College Hospital, CMCH). Among the sharps, vials and ampoules were identified as the most frequently disposed items; which constitute almost 45% of the total sharps’ waste load. This was followed by syringe and needle, and saline bag with infusion set with a share of 42% and 13% respectively. The disposal rates of sharp wastes were found to very significantly among wards. Among various wards the daily mean disposal rate of vials and ampoules, for example, found to range from 0.57 to 5.25 individuals bed^-1 day^-1. Likewise, it was 0.09 to 3.00 individual bed^-1 day^-1 and 0.41 to 4.96 individuals bed^-1 day^-1 for saline bag with infusion set and syringe and needle respectively. Of the pathological wastes, such as dressing, amputations, body fluids and featuses. Gynecology ward generates the highest quantity of 14.75 g bed^-1 day^-1 which was followed by Surgery unit 3 (4.05 g bed^-1 day^-1) and Surgery unit 2 (3.63 g bed^-1 day^-1). Orthopedic surgery unit generates the lowest quantity of 1.91 g bed^-1 day^-1.