Imaging technique or computer vision technology has received huge attention as a rapid and non-destructive technique throughout the world for measuring quality attributes of agricultural products including meat and meat products. This study was conducted to test the ability of computer vision technology to predict the quality attributes of beef. Images were captured from longissimus dorsi muscle in beef at 24 hours post-mortem. Traits evaluated were color value (L*,a*,b*), pH, drip loss, cooking loss, dry matter, moisture, crude protein, fat, ash, Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), Peroxide value (POV), Free fatty acid (FFA), Total coliform count (TCC), Total viable count (TVC) and Total yeast-mould count (TYMC). Images were analyzed using the Matlab software (R2015a). Different reference values were determined by physicochemical, proximate, biochemical and microbiological test. All determination was done in triplicate and the mean value was reported. Data analysis was carried out using the programme Statgraphics Centurion XV.I. Calibration and validation model were fitted using the software Unscrambler X version 9.7. A higher correlation found in a* (r = 0.65) and moisture (r = 0.56) with 'a*' value obtained from image analysis and the highest calibration and prediction accuracy was found in Lightness (R²c = 0.73, R²p = 0.69) in beef. Results of this work show that computer vision technology may be a useful tool for predicting meat quality traits in the laboratory and meat processing industries.

Despite a common disorder population-based data on gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) in Bangladesh is lacking. This epidemiological study was designed to determine the prevalence of GERD and its association with lifestyle factors. This population-based cross-sectional study was done by door to door interview of randomly selected persons in both urban and rural areas of North Eastern part of Bangladesh by using a validated questionnaire. A cutoff point 3 was chosen as a valid and reliable scale to confirm GERD. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS-12 version and the level of significance was set at P≤0.05. A total of 2000 persons with an age range of 15 to 85 years were interviewed; 1000 subjects from urban area and 1000 from rural area. Among the study subjects 1064 were male and 936 were female. A total of 110 persons (5.5%) were found to have GERD symptoms and among them 47 were men and 67 were women. The monthly, weekly and daily prevalence of heart-burn and or acid regurgitation was 5.5%, 5.25% and 2.5% respectively. Female sex, increased age and lower level of education were significantly associated with GERD symptoms. Prevalence was found more among city dwellers (approximately 6.0% versus 4.8%), married (6.23%, n=86), widowed/widowers (16.83%, n=17) and day labourer (8.78%). Level of education inversely influenced the prevalence. No significant association of GERD was found with body mass index (BMI) and smoking. Prevalence of GERD in North-Eastern part of Bangladesh was lower than that of western world. Prevalence was found higher in urban population, women, married, widowed/widowers and in poor and illiterate persons. BMI and smoking had no significant association with GERD.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is one of the highly contagious diseases of domestic and wild animals of many countries of the world including Bangladesh. The present study was undertaken to detect currently circulating FMD virus (FMDV) in Bangladesh using BHK-21 cell line, and the FMDV were typed using RT-PCR. The viruses induced characteristics cytopathic effects in BHK-21 cell lines, for examples, rounding, swelling, breaking down of intercellular bridge and cell death. Out of 151 clinical samples collected from different districts of Bangladesh, 85(56.29%) were successfully adapted in BHK-21 cell line, and were analyzed using FMDV type specific primers. Among these 85 BHK-21 adopted virus, 71(83.52%) were found as positive for FMD virus by RT-PCR; of which, 31 (36.47%) were positive for type A, 26 (30.58%) for type O, and 10 (11.76%) for type Asia 1. Only 4 (4.70%) samples were found as positive for mixed infection having Type A and Asia 1 FMDV. All the FMDV originated from Tangail (n=7) and Rajshahi (n=6) districts were found as positive for FMDV while 71.42% (n=14/36) samples of Mymensingh district were positive for FMDV. The FMDV identified in this study could now be used for effective vaccine development to control the disease in Bangladesh.

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The present study was conducted to know the pathogenicity and LD 50 of Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from diseased climbing perch Anabas testudineus against apparently healthy homologous fish and the distribution of the bacteria in the organs of the experimentally infected fish. A total of 10 fish of average body weight of 18 g were used. For pathogenicity test, two different doses viz. 9.2 × 10 7 and 9.2 × 10 6 CFU/fish were injected intramuscularly. Pathogenicity of A. hydrophila was confirmed at water temperature of 28.53 o C by the mortality of 40% to 100% of all tested fish within 4 to 9 days.