Background Accurate prediction of the disease severity of patients with COVID-19 would greatly improve care delivery and resource allocation and thereby reduce mortality risks, especially in less developed countries. Many patient-related factors, such as pre-existing comorbidities, affect disease severity and can be used to aid this prediction. Objective Because rapid automated profiling of peripheral blood samples is widely available, we aimed to investigate how data from the peripheral blood of patients with COVID-19 can be used to predict clinical outcomes. Methods We investigated clinical data sets of patients with COVID-19 with known outcomes by combining statistical comparison and correlation methods with machine learning algorithms; the latter included decision tree, random forest, variants of gradient boosting machine, support vector machine, k-nearest neighbor, and deep learning methods. Results Our work revealed that several clinical parameters that are measurable in blood samples are factors that can discriminate between healthy people and COVID-19–positive patients, and we showed the value of these parameters in predicting later severity of COVID-19 symptoms. We developed a number of analytical methods that showed accuracy and precision scores >90% for disease severity prediction. Conclusions We developed methodologies to analyze routine patient clinical data that enable more accurate prediction of COVID-19 patient outcomes. With this approach, data from standard hospital laboratory analyses of patient blood could be used to identify patients with COVID-19 who are at high risk of mortality, thus enabling optimization of hospital facilities for COVID-19 treatment.

Coastal shrimp (Penaeus monodon) aquaculture in Bangladesh is mostly practiced in a special type of field/pond situated by the side of a river -called a Gher -that is used to cultivate rice in winter and shrimp in summer. Ghers of different sizes are managed in different ways. In order to understand the effects of Gher size and their corresponding management practices on the production and economic returns of shrimp farming, we conducted an on-farm study in three small (1À5 ha), three medium (6À10 ha) and three large (>10 ha) Ghers located in the coastal Southwest region of Bangladesh. The mean harvest weight of shrimp was similar in all Ghers, but survival rates were higher in the small (50%) and medium (37%) ones than in the large (18%) ones. The high mortality in the large units led to a production that was lower than one-half of that in the small Ghers (about 80 and 200 kg/ha, respectively). The total variable costs per unit area were similar in all Ghers, but the importance of different items varied with Gher size. In the small Ghers, there are relatively high investments on inputs and labor. This expenditure results in lower shrimp mortality and higher production, which in turn results in gross returns that are larger than the total costs -hence, a positive and high net return. In large Ghers, the fixed costs are larger than in the small ones simply because of the size of the pond. Variable costs include higher investments in postlarvae and labor than in small Ghers, and lower inputs applied only at pond preparation. This results in higher shrimp mortality and lower production, which in turn results in gross returns that are smaller than the total costs -hence, a negative or low net return. These findings have positive implications for the future policy formulation of coastal shrimp aquaculture in Bangladesh.

Assessment of litterfall production is essential to ascertain the status of nutrient cycling and forest health. Sarawak, Malaysia, is endowed with numerous pristine and estuarine mangroves; however, research on primary productivity of these forests is scanty. Therefore, litterfall production in a pristine Sibuti mangrove of Sarawak was estimated using litter traps for one year (January-December 2013), and forest structure was studied through tree census. The forest was dominated by Rhizophora apiculata (relative density [RD] was 77.11%), followed by Xylocarpus granatum (RD was 16.92%) and other species (RD was only 5.97%). The annual dry weight of litterfalls was estimated to be 1640.82 g m −2 , of which R. apiculata contributed 92.94%, followed by X. granatum (4.01%) and other species (3.05%). Leaves were the most abundant (57.21%) contributory component of litters, followed by propagules (11.89%), flowers (10.85%), twigs (8.56%), and stipules (8.45%). No significant correlations were found for total litterfall and its major components with climatic variables and forest structure. Total litterfall of R. apiculata and X. granatum did not show any seasonal variations. However, leaf litter of R. apiculata showed a significant seasonal variation between intermediate (January-April) and wet (September-December) seasons. The litterfall production of Sibuti mangrove forest is higher in comparison to other tropical mangroves of the world. The higher productivity of the forest could be due to nutrient availability, pristine nature, and stand maturity of the forest rather than climatic influences. The findings of the study suggest that litterfall production of the pristine Sibuti mangrove is not influenced by the variability of climatic factors.Maisto medžiagų apykaitos miške ir jo būklės įvertinimui labai svarbūs nuokritų susidarymo tyrimai. Daug žmogaus veiklos nepaliestų ir nepakankamai ištirtų estuarinių mangrovių yra Malaizijoje, Saravako valstijoje. Saravake esančioje Sibuti mangrovėje nuo 2013 m. sausio iki gruodžio miško nuokritų susidarymas buvo tiriamas nuokritų gaudyklėmis. Įvertinta medžių rūšinė sudėtis: dominavo Rhizophora apiculata -77,11% ir Xylocarpus granatum -16,92%, kitų rūšių medžiai sudarė 5,97%. Sausas nuokritų svoris per metus buvo 1640,82 g/m 2 , iš jų R. apiculata -92,94%; X. granatum -4,01%, kitų rūšių -3,05%. 57,21% nuokritų sudarė lapai, 11,89% -vegetatyvinio dauginimosi dalys, 10,85% -žiedai, 8,56% -šakelės, 8,45% -prielapiai. Nuokritų ir jų dalių kiekis nebuvo patikimai susijęs su klimato sąlygų kaita ar miško struktūra. Nustatyta, kad bendras R. apiculata ir X. granatum nuokritų gausumas nepriklauso nuo sezono, tačiau R. apiculata lapų nuokritų gausumas ženkliai skyrėsi pereinamojo (sausio-balandžio) ir drėgnojo (rugsėjo-gruodžio) sezonų metu. Sibuti mangrovėje nuokritų susidarymo produktyvumas yra didesnis nei kitose pasaulio tropinėse mangrovėse. Didesnis šio miško produktyvumas daugiau priklauso nuo maisto medžiagų kiekio, gamtos natūralumo ir miško brandos negu nuo klimatinių sąlygų. T...

Coastal shrimp aquaculture in Bangladesh is mostly practiced in an agricultural unit called a Gher, which is a special type of agricultural field with elevated surrounding embankments/ borders situated by the side of a river that is used to grow rice in winter and shrimp in summer. Ghers of different sizes are managed in different ways. An on-farm project was carried out to study the effects of Gher size and their related management practices on water quality, shrimp production and the economic returns of shrimp farming in the Southwest coastal region of Bangladesh. We present here the results of this project with respect to water quality as explored through factor analysis, which was applied as a way to understand the nature and extent of the effects of different variables. For the majority of the variables and factors, one-half to two-thirds of their variability was explained by changes over time (months), and a further one-quarter to one-third was explained by Gher size and associated management practices. The alternating dry/monsoon season and water management practices determined long-term and large-scale (annual) water exchange in the Ghers that mainly affected processes related to live and dead particles suspended in the water column. Processes related to decomposition and nitrification were more dependent on short-term (days) water circulation in the Ghers, which is turn was reliant on the time span between the exchanges of water in the Ghers and river. Our results show that improved management leads to higher natural and shrimp productivity in the smaller Ghers and strongly support the argument put forward by the policy makers and scientific community in Bangladesh that the smaller the Gher, the better they can be managed and the better the possibility of increased shrimp survival and production.

Sarawak is endowed with numerous pristine and estuarine mangroves. However, information pertaining to the species composition and diversity of pristine mangroves of Sarawak is scanty. Hence, this study was carried out to assess the plant composition and diversity of Sibuti mangrove forest, Miri, Sarawak to investigate the current status and diversity of vegetation. Nine mangrove plant species were recorded employing the line transect (100À240 m) survey method. Major mangrove species were Rhizophora apiculata, Xylocarpus granatum, and Nypa fruticans. The stand density was recorded as 1938.46 § 482.24 trees ha ¡1 , 1722.22 § 254.58 saplings ha ¡1 , and 6222.22 § 384.90 seedlings ha ¡1 . The mean diameter, height, and basal area for the whole forest stand were 20.83 § 13.79 cm, 13.53 § 5.55 m, and 201.83 § 12.68 m 2 ha ¡1 , respectively. The mean diameter of the dominant species R. apiculata was 24.10 § 13.90 cm, height 15.18 § 5.09 m, and basal area 176.13 § 12.73 m 2 ha ¡1 . The importance value index (IVI) of R. apiculata was 202.24 followed by 63.85 for X. granatum. Shannon diversity indices (H 0 ), Margalef richness (D), and Peilou evenness (J 0 ) of the forest stand were 1.18, 1.41, and 0.54, respectively. Similarity of species composition showed two major clusters for the whole forest stand. The findings of this study suggest that Sibuti mangrove forest stand is undisturbed and healthy. This forest could be managed and conserved for multi-sectoral uses such as ecotourism, biodiversity, research, and education rather than solely as a wildlife sanctuary.

Homestead ponds may offer an ideal opportunity in contribution to household income, fish consumption through fish culture. Phytoplankton plays a key indicator in pond productivity. However, the phytoplankton communities in the homestead ponds are nearly undetermined in Bangladesh. This study summarizes the phytoplankton diversity, assemblage and ecological parameters of the homestead ponds in central coastal belt, Bangladesh, based on two seasons. The results revealed that significant differences (p < .05) were found in pH, DO, conductivity, TDS, nitrates, phosphates and sulphates except temperature in monsoon, and transparency in both seasons. A total of 34 phytoplankton genera representatives of five major groups were recorded such as Euglenophyceae (41.5%), Chlorophyceae (30.5%), Cyanophyceae (13%), Dinophyceae (10%) and Bacillariophyceae (5%). A significant difference (p < .05) in phytoplankton abundance was found in both seasons with the highest mean of 186.13 ± 129.34 × 10 4 cells L −1 in monsoon and the lowest mean of 144.40 ± 107.26 × 10 4 cells L −1 during winter. The diversity (H'), evenness (J'), richness (d) and dominance (D) ranged from 1.62 to 2.47, 0.52 to 0.97, 0.37 to 1.15 and 0.10 to 0.28 respectively. Based on SIMPER, the most dominant (>10%) genera for dissimilation within stations and seasons were Euglena spp., Phacus spp., Chlorella spp., Strombomonas spp. and Peridinium spp. ANOSIM results stated that 12 genera of phytoplankton were significant contributors based on average dissimilarity. Pearson's correlation coefficient and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that phytoplankton abundance, diversity and community were mainly governed by transparency, dissolved oxygen and nitrates.

An experiment was conducted at the Soil Science Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during Boro season of 2008 with a view to examining the effect of soil and foliar application of urea on the yield and nutrient uptake of BRRIdhan 29 and to evaluate whether urea foliar application (FA) could replace its soil application (SA) in the rice cultivation. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eight treatments, each treatment replicated thrice. The treatments were: T 1 (control), T 2 (282 kg urea ha -1 SA), T 3 (1% urea solution FA), T 4 (2% urea solution FA), T 5 (3% urea solution FA), T 6 (94 kg urea ha -1 SA + 1% urea solution FA), T 7 (94 kg urea ha -1 SA + 2% urea solution FA) and T 8 (94 kg urea ha -1 SA + 3% urea solution FA). The results showed that soil and foliar application of nitrogen significantly influenced the growth and yield of crop. The treatment T 2 (282 kg urea ha -1 ) produced the highest grain yield (5.34 t ha -1 ). The T 6 (94 kg urea ha -1 + 1% urea solution FA) produced the highest straw yield (6.58 t ha -1 ) of the crop. The lowest grain yield (3.20 t ha -1 ) and the lowest straw yield (4.19 t ha -1 ) were recorded with T 1 (control). Economic analysis showed that treatment T 2 gave the highest marginal benefit cost ratio (7.65) while the lowest value (2.71) was observed with T 5 treatment. The overall results demonstrated that soil application of 282 kg urea ha -1 was the best treatment for obtaining higher grain yield, higher nitrogen content of rice and higher marginal benefit cost ratio, and soil application is better than foliar application of urea.

This study was carried out to assess the fishery resources of the Sibuti River estuary, Sarawak, Malaysia. Data were collected from the study area for a period of one year in different seasons. The estuary is relatively species-rich and a total of 4675 individuals of 32 families from 60 species of fish (55), crab (four) and shrimp (one) were collected. Coilia dussumieri was the dominant species (22.63%) followed by Nemapteryx caelata (11.85%), Otolithes ruber (7.85%) and Ilisha elongata (5.80%). Marked seasonal variations were found among most of the hydrobiological factors; however, seasonal variations were not significant for the diversity indices such as Shannon-Wiener, Margalef and Evenness. The number of fish taxa caught in different mesh size gill nets was 1 inch (42 species) > 2 inch (36 species) > 4 inch (25 species), suggesting that smaller mesh nets are more suitable for assessing the diversity of fishery resources. SIMPER analysis showed that Coilia dussumieri was the most abundant species in the dry (10.3%) and intermediate (8.1%) seasons, whereas N. caelata was most abundant in the wet season (7.1%). Significant differences (ANOSIM and nMDS) were observed in the species community structure between dry-intermediate and dry-wet seasons; however, species compositions were not significantly different between intermediate and wet seasons. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that most of the species assemblages were positively correlated with turbidity and chlorophyll a, followed by phosphate, nitrate and zooplankton density. The findings suggest that the Sibuti mangrove estuary is productive in terms of diversified fishery resources, which are influenced by the hydrobiological factors.