Volume 3

Internet addiction (IA) has emerged as a significant behavioral concern worldwide, and prior research has consistently linked it to loneliness, particularly among young adults. This study examined the level of internet addiction and its correlation with loneliness among undergraduate students of Rajshahi University, and additionally examined whether internet addiction and loneliness differ by gender. Using a correlational design and convenience sampling, data were collected from 60 undergraduate students (33 male, 27 female) from different departments and academic sessions. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Bangla-adapted Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and the Bangla version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a small, statistically non-significant positive correlation between internet addiction and loneliness, r (58) = .211, p = .105. An independent-samples t -test showed that male students scored significantly higher than female students on internet addiction, t (58) = 2.74, p = .008, whereas no significant gender difference emerged for loneliness, t (58) = 0.71, p = .478. These findings are broadly consistent with previous studies linking excessive internet use to feelings of loneliness and social disconnection. Implications for early identification and intervention among university students, along with study limitations, are discussed. With N = 60, the study’s power to detect an effect of this size was low (~33% at α = .05), so this result should be read as inconclusive rather than as a confirmed null finding; effect sizes ( r 2 = .04; Cohen’s d = 0.71 for the internet-addiction gender difference and 0.19 for the loneliness gender difference) and 95% confidence intervals are reported alongside significance tests throughout.

Diseases caused by pathogenic microbes affect humans, animals, and plants, reducing agricultural productivity and leading to health crises. Numerous studies have recently explored potential solutions to address these challenges. In this study, we propose a simple cost-effective approach involving carbon quantum dots (CQDs)-based metal complexes, which demonstrate enhanced bactericidal activity against pathogenic bacteria. The incorporation of CQDs with metals such as silver (Ag), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and manganese (Mn) significantly enhances the antibacterial activity of the metals through mechanisms such as oxidative stress generation, membrane rupture, and interference with bacterial metabolic activities. CQDs were synthesized using hydrothermal methods from green sources, and their metal complexes were prepared via a covalent coordination reaction. The properties of the synthesized CQDs and their metal complexes were analyzed using FTIR, SEM, and EDX to confirm their successful formation. The antimicrobial efficacy of these compounds was evaluated against two pathogenic bacteria, including Gram-positive strains ( Staphylococcus aureus ) and Gram-negative strains ( Escherichia coli ). The integration of metal centers into the CQDs' backbone markedly enhanced bactericidal effectiveness across all tested cases. Notably, CQDs-metal complexes exhibited the highest bactericidal effects, attributed to the intrinsic activity of metal ions. Among the CQDs-metal complexes, CQD-Ag exhibited the highest MIC/MBC of 78.5/220 μg/mL against S. aureus and 500/670 μg/mL against E. Coli . These findings underscore the critical role of the coordinated bond between metal centers and CQD ligands in determining the antibacterial efficacy of these complexes. The remarkable bactericidal activity demonstrated by these metal complexes highlights their potential for diverse applications, including resisting agricultural diseases, developing soft and tough tissue adhesives for biomedical use, and enhancing safety in the food industry.

This study aimed to assess the quality and suitability of groundwater for drinking purposes, as well as to examine the spatial variation within the area of Rajshahi University, which is located near the mighty Padma River, approximately seven kilometers east of the Rajshahi City Center. A total of twelve water samples were collected from various locations on the campus. The sampling points included Sher-e Bangla Fazlul Haque Hall, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall (Bijoy-24) Hall, Matihar Hall, Sayed Ameer Ali Hall, Nawab Abdul Latif Hall, Shah Makhdum Hall, Shahid Shamsuzzoha Hall, Madar Bux Hall, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy Hall, Shahid Ziaur Rahman Hall, Shahid Habibur Rahman Hall, and the Jabir ibn Hayyan Academic Building. The quality of the groundwater was evaluated by measuring several physicochemical parameters: color, taste, odor, temperature, pH, salinity, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and total hardness. In comparison to WHO and BDS standards, most of the groundwater samples from the study area fell within permissible limits and were deemed safe for consumption. We also compared the groundwater quality with that of commercially available bottled water in the market. However, when compared to bottled water, most groundwater samples showed significant differences in their quality parameters.