ArsenicSkinImageBD: A comprehensive image dataset to classify affected and healthy skin of arsenic-affected people.

Compared to other popular research domains, dermatology got less attention among machine learning researchers. One of the main concerns for this problem is an inadequate dataset since collecting samples from the human body is very sensitive. In recent years, arsenic has emerged as a significant issue for dermatologists. Arsenic is a highly toxic substance found in the earth's crust whose small amounts can be very injurious to the human body. People who are exposed to arsenic for a long time through water and food can get cancer and skin lesions. With a view to contributing to this aspect, this dataset has been organized with the help of which the researchers can understand the impact of this contamination and design a solution using artificial intelligence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first standard, easy-to-use, and open dataset of arsenic diseases. The images were collected from four places in Bangladesh, under the Department of Public Health Engineering, Chapainawabganj, where they are working on arsenic contamination. The dataset has 8892 skin images, with half of them showing people with arsenic effects and the other half showing mixed skin images that are not affected by arsenic. This makes the dataset useful for treating people with arsenic-related conditions. Eventually, this dataset can attract the attention of not only the machine learning researchers, but also scientists, doctors, and other professionals in the associated research field.

Comparative Effects of Oyster Mushrooms on Lipid Profile, Liver and Kidney Function in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Comparative effects of oyster mushrooms on plasma and fecal lipid profiles and on liver and kidney function were evaluated in hyper and normocholesterolemic rats. Feeding of hypercholesterolemic rats a 5% powder of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus, P. sajor-caju and P. florida) reduced the plasma total cholesterol level by 37%, 21% and 16%, respectively and reduced the triglyceride level by 45%, 24% and 14%, respectively. LDL/HDL ratio decreased by 64%, 45% and 41% for P. sajor-caju, P. ostreatus and P. florida fed rats, respectively. Mushroom feeding also reduced body weight in hypercholesterolemic rats. However, it had no adverse effect on plasma bilirubin, creatinin and urea nitrogen level. Mushroom feeding also increased the total lipid and cholesterol excretion in the feces. The present study reveals that feeding of 5% oyster mushroom powder does not have detrimental effects on the liver and kidneys rather may provide health benefits for the cardiovascular-related complication by decreasing the atherogenic lipid profiles.

Nutritional Analysis of Cultivated Mushrooms in Bangladesh - Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus sajor-caju, Pleurotus florida and Calocybe indica

Mushroom cultivation has been started recently in Bangladesh. Awareness of the nutritional and medicinal importance of mushrooms is not extensive. In this study, the nutritional values of dietary mushrooms- Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus sajorcaju, Pleurotus florida and Calocybe indica that are very popular among the cultivated mushrooms in Bangladesh have been determined. These mushrooms were rich in proteins (20~25%) and fibers (13~24% in dry samples) and contained a lower amount of lipid (4 to 5%). The carbohydrate contents ranged from 37 to 48% (on the basis of dry weight). These were also rich in mineral contents (total ash content is 8~13%). The pileus and gills were protein and lipid rich and stripe was carbohydrate and fiber-rich. The moisture content of mushrooms ranged from 86 to 87.5%. Data of this study suggest that mushrooms are rich in nutritional value.