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Sustainable materials are becoming increasingly important due to environmental concerns and the energy crisis. Non-wood resources such as bamboo are being explored as alternatives to wood-based materials to reduce deforestation. However, the chemical properties of these resources determine their usability. This study analyzed the chemical composition and solubility of Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss, a type of bamboo. The effects of age and height position (top, middle, and bottom) on the chemical composition and solubility were also considered. The study followed the standards of TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry) to analyze holocellulose, lignin, and extractive content, and water (hot and cold) and caustic soda (1% NaOH) solubility. The results showed that the chemical composition, i.e., holocellulose, lignin, and extractive, increased while solubility, i.e., cold water, hot water, and NaOH, decreased with the ageing of B. bambos. The average holocellulose, lignin, and extractive contents of three-year-old B. bambos were 70.49%, 27.55%, and 4.54%, respectively. These values were within the range of previous studies, indicating that B. bambos has potential applications in various purposes. © 2024 The Authors

Sustainable materials are becoming increasingly important due to environmental concerns and the energy crisis. Non-wood resources such as bamboo are being explored as alternatives to wood-based materials to reduce deforestation. However, the chemical properties of these resources determine their usability. This study analyzed the chemical composition and solubility of Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss, a type of bamboo. The effects of age and height position (top, middle, and bottom) on the chemical composition and solubility were also considered. The study followed the standards of TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry) to analyze holocellulose, lignin, and extractive content, and water (hot and cold) and caustic soda (1% NaOH) solubility. The results showed that the chemical composition, i.e., holocellulose, lignin, and extractive, increased while solubility, i.e., cold water, hot water, and NaOH, decreased with the ageing of B. bambos. The average holocellulose, lignin, and extractive contents of three-year-old B. bambos were 70.49%, 27.55%, and 4.54%, respectively. These values were within the range of previous studies, indicating that B. bambos has potential applications in various purposes. © 2024 The Authors

Healthcare waste comprises the waste generated by healthcare facilities, medical laboratories and biomedical research facilities. Improper treatment of this waste poses serious risks of disease transmission to waste pickers, waste workers, health workers, patients, and the community in general through exposure to infectious agents. Poor management of the waste emits harmful and deleterious contaminants into society. However, contamination of highly contagious agents such as the COVID-19 virus has created enormous instability in healthcare waste handling and subsequent recycling because of the volume of the waste generated and its contagious nature. Several countries have adopted safety measures to combat this contamination and manage healthcare waste; however, these measures are insufficient and vary depending on the context of the country. In addition, the WHO has set out guidelines for management of healthcare waste. These guidelines are helping to manage the highly contagious healthcare waste resulting from the current pandemic. Proper healthcare waste management may add value by reducing the spread of the COVID-19 virus and increasing the recyclability of materials instead of sending them to landfill. Disinfecting and sorting out healthcare waste facilitates sustainable management and allows their utilization for valuable purposes. This review discusses the different healthcare solid waste management strategies practiced in different countries, the challenges faced during this management, and the possible solutions for overcoming these challenges. It also provides useful insights into healthcare solid waste management scenarios during the COVID-19 pandemic and a possible way forward.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) represents an inevitable by-product of human activity and a major crisis for communities across the globe. In recent times, the recycling of MSW has drawn attention as the process can add value through resources from the recovered waste materials and facilitates the process of circular economy. However, during the unprecedented coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the risk of infection with the highly contagious virus has proven detrimental to the continuation of MSW as a valuable resource. The volume of waste, especially household waste, is higher; face masks, PPE (personal protective equipment), and hazardous materials such as batteries and empty chlorine bottles are examples of extra waste that have arisen during the pandemic. Various countries have set up initiatives for MSW management, including safety measurements for employees in the MSW management sector. The use of disinfectant prior to sorting waste, as well as storing waste for 9 days, may help to inactivate the COVID-19 virus, ensuring an appropriate safety level for MSW management. This work aimed at studying different MSW management strategies, specific challenges, and possible solutions for better understanding for those involved in waste management, in addition to providing a possible management strategy during and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) represents an inevitable by-product of human activity and a major crisis for communities across the globe. In recent times, the recycling of MSW has drawn attention as the process can add value through resources from the recovered waste materials and facilitates the process of circular economy. However, during the unprecedented coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the risk of infection with the highly contagious virus has proven detrimental to the continuation of MSW as a valuable resource. The volume of waste, especially household waste, is higher; face masks, PPE (personal protective equipment), and hazardous materials such as batteries and empty chlorine bottles are examples of extra waste that have arisen during the pandemic. Various countries have set up initiatives for MSW management, including safety measurements for employees in the MSW management sector. The use of disinfectant prior to sorting waste, as well as storing waste for 9 days, may help to inactivate the COVID-19 virus, ensuring an appropriate safety level for MSW management. This work aimed at studying different MSW management strategies, specific challenges, and possible solutions for better understanding for those involved in waste management, in addition to providing a possible management strategy during and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) represents an inevitable by-product of human activity and a major crisis for communities across the globe. In recent times, the recycling of MSW has drawn attention as the process can add value through resources from the recovered waste materials and facilitates the process of circular economy. However, during the unprecedented coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the risk of infection with the highly contagious virus has proven detrimental to the continuation of MSW as a valuable resource. The volume of waste, especially household waste, is higher; face masks, PPE (personal protective equipment), and hazardous materials such as batteries and empty chlorine bottles are examples of extra waste that have arisen during the pandemic. Various countries have set up initiatives for MSW management, including safety measurements for employees in the MSW management sector. The use of disinfectant prior to sorting waste, as well as storing waste for 9 days, may help to inactivate the COVID-19 virus, ensuring an appropriate safety level for MSW management. This work aimed at studying different MSW management strategies, specific challenges, and possible solutions for better understanding for those involved in waste management, in addition to providing a possible management strategy during and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) represents an inevitable by-product of human activity and a major crisis for communities across the globe. In recent times, the recycling of MSW has drawn attention as the process can add value through resources from the recovered waste materials and facilitates the process of circular economy. However, during the unprecedented coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the risk of infection with the highly contagious virus has proven detrimental to the continuation of MSW as a valuable resource. The volume of waste, especially household waste, is higher; face masks, PPE (personal protective equipment), and hazardous materials such as batteries and empty chlorine bottles are examples of extra waste that have arisen during the pandemic. Various countries have set up initiatives for MSW management, including safety measurements for employees in the MSW management sector. The use of disinfectant prior to sorting waste, as well as storing waste for 9 days, may help to inactivate the COVID-19 virus, ensuring an appropriate safety level for MSW management. This work aimed at studying different MSW management strategies, specific challenges, and possible solutions for better understanding for those involved in waste management, in addition to providing a possible management strategy during and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) represents an inevitable by-product of human activity and a major crisis for communities across the globe. In recent times, the recycling of MSW has drawn attention as the process can add value through resources from the recovered waste materials and facilitates the process of circular economy. However, during the unprecedented coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the risk of infection with the highly contagious virus has proven detrimental to the continuation of MSW as a valuable resource. The volume of waste, especially household waste, is higher; face masks, PPE (personal protective equipment), and hazardous materials such as batteries and empty chlorine bottles are examples of extra waste that have arisen during the pandemic. Various countries have set up initiatives for MSW management, including safety measurements for employees in the MSW management sector. The use of disinfectant prior to sorting waste, as well as storing waste for 9 days, may help to inactivate the COVID-19 virus, ensuring an appropriate safety level for MSW management. This work aimed at studying different MSW management strategies, specific challenges, and possible solutions for better understanding for those involved in waste management, in addition to providing a possible management strategy during and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

This paper assesses the effectiveness of microfinance on household income, expenditure and savings. The survey examined those borrowers who had successfully completed at least three cycles of a loan. A household level survey (N=3000) was carried out to collect information about individuals receiving microcredit from one of the largest NGOs, ASA. The authors employed a multiple regression and discovered that the microcredit programme of ASA has a significant positive impact on household income, expenditures and savings. Moreover, the paper reveals that the level of education plays an important and statistically significant role in increasing the household income, expenditure and savings. Hence, the ASA microcredit programme has a positive impact on reducing poverty in Bangladesh and enhancing the competitiveness of deprived rural and urban households in improving their standard of living.

This paper assesses the effectiveness of microfinance on household income, expenditure and savings. The survey examined those borrowers who had successfully completed at least three cycles of a loan. A household level survey (N=3000) was carried out to collect information about individuals receiving microcredit from one of the largest NGOs, ASA. The authors employed a multiple regression and discovered that the microcredit programme of ASA has a significant positive impact on household income, expenditures and savings. Moreover, the paper reveals that the level of education plays an important and statistically significant role in increasing the household income, expenditure and savings. Hence, the ASA microcredit programme has a positive impact on reducing poverty in Bangladesh and enhancing the competitiveness of deprived rural and urban households in improving their standard of living.

Objective To study the clinical and histopathological characteristics along with the management of parapharyngeal space tumours. Study designProspective study. SettingDepartment of ENT & Head and Neck Surgery, Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, Burdwan MethodsTwenty patients with parapharyngeal tumours treated in Burdwan Medical College & Hospital from November 2013 to October 2014 were included in the study. ConclusionParapharyngeal tumours are rare head and neck neoplasms. Neck swelling is the most common clinical presentation. Schwannoma is the most common type of tumour involving parapharyngeal space. Their accurate diagnosis and management is challenging.

Objective To study the clinical and histopathological characteristics along with the management of parapharyngeal space tumours. Study designProspective study. SettingDepartment of ENT & Head and Neck Surgery, Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, Burdwan MethodsTwenty patients with parapharyngeal tumours treated in Burdwan Medical College & Hospital from November 2013 to October 2014 were included in the study. ConclusionParapharyngeal tumours are rare head and neck neoplasms. Neck swelling is the most common clinical presentation. Schwannoma is the most common type of tumour involving parapharyngeal space. Their accurate diagnosis and management is challenging.

Objective To study the clinical and histopathological characteristics along with the management of parapharyngeal space tumours. Study designProspective study. SettingDepartment of ENT & Head and Neck Surgery, Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, Burdwan MethodsTwenty patients with parapharyngeal tumours treated in Burdwan Medical College & Hospital from November 2013 to October 2014 were included in the study. ConclusionParapharyngeal tumours are rare head and neck neoplasms. Neck swelling is the most common clinical presentation. Schwannoma is the most common type of tumour involving parapharyngeal space. Their accurate diagnosis and management is challenging.

In this doctoral thesis structural and electronic properties of transition metal complexes of redox-active non-innocent ligands such as nitrosyl, 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-phenyl-o-iminobenzoquinone and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-o-quinone are described. Additionally, the thesis covers the synthesis, mode of binding and electron transfer behaviors of metal complexes of an air-stable chiral diphosphine derived chelating ligand, R,R-QuinoxP. In the first part of my thesis the synthetic aspects, the structural, spectroscopic and electronic properties of new transition metal (Ru and Re) nitrosyl complexes are described. The actual form of coordinated NOm (m = +/0/−) is established based on the experimental results supported by calculations. In Chapter 2, different oxidation states of [Ru(OEP)(NO)(X)]n+ (n = +2, +1, 0, −1, OEP = octaethylporphyrin dianion) with varying axial sixth ligands X (H2O, pyridine, 4-cyanopyridine, 4-dimethylaminopyridine) are studied spectroscopically and the electronic structures of the complexes have been rationalized through DFT calculations. Chapter 3 describes the complex (PPh4)4[(CN)4(NO)Re(μ-O)Re(NO)(CN)4], an oxo-bridged rhenium dinitrosyl complex with cyanide as a co-ligand. The complex has been structurally and spectroscopically characterized. Crystal structure analysis confirms the linear coordination of the nitrosyl groups and of the linear mode of Re-O-Re unit. The complex exhibits two sharp ν(NO) bands at 1710 and 1670 cm−1 and two sharp ν(CN) bands at 2118 and 2129 cm−1 in CH3CN. In the second part of this thesis several complexes with 1,2-dioxolene type non-innocent ligands (Q or QO) or sometimes combining two non-innocent ligands Q and NO in one system are described. Chapter 4 describes four ruthenium o-iminoquinone complexes with the objective of establishing the metal-ligand valence state distribution. The complexes are isolated in the monocationic form and have also been characterized crystallographically. The C1-O1, C2-N1 bond lengths and the C-C intra-ring distances suggest that Q binds to the metal center in the iminosemiquinonato (Q·−) oxidation state, resulting in an [RuIII(Q·–)] electronic formulation in all four cases. Chapter 5 deals with two paramagnetic complexes [Ru(NO)(Q)(terpy)](PF6)2 and [Ru(NO)(Q)(tppz)](PF6)2 combining three redox sensitive components such as RuII/RuIII, NOm and (Q)n. The co-ligands terpy and tppz are redox invariant in the present cases. The most stable positional isomer of [Ru(NO)(Q)(terpy)](PF6)2 with NO trans to the O donor atom of Q was isolated and characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. In conjunction with the experimental Ru-N-O angle and the metrical parameters in the quinonoid ligand especially the C1-O1 distance and with ν(NO), the EPR studies at 9.5 and 285 GHz reveal a narrow radical-type signal, suggesting [RuII(NO+)(Q·−)(terpy)]2+ as the most valid oxidation state formulation. Chapter 6 describes the structural, electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of [Cl(Q)Ru(μ-tppz)Ru(Q)Cl]n. The complex [Cl(Q)Ru(μ-tppz)Ru(Q)Cl](PF6)2, containin, In dieser Arbeit werden die strukturellen sowie elektronischen Eigenschaften von Übergangsmetallkomplexen mit redoxaktiven Liganden wie Nitrosyl, 4,6-Di-tert-butyl-N-phenyl-o-iminobenzochinon und 3,5-Di-tert-butyl-o-benzochinon vorgestellt. Zusätzlich werden in dieser Arbeit die Synthese, die Bindungsverhältnisse und das Elektronentransferverhalten von Übergangsmetallkomplexen mit dem luftstabilen chiralen chelatisierenden Diphosphinliganden R,R-QuinoxP beschrieben. Im ersten Teil dieser Arbeit werden die synthetischen Aspekte, die Strukturen, spektroskopische- und elektronische Eigenschaften neuer Nitrosylkomplexe mit den Übergangsmetallen Ru und Re beschrieben. Die tatsächliche Form des koordinierten NOm (m = +/0/-) wurde durch experimentelle Ergebnisse und von quantenchemischen Rechnungen unterstützt. Im zweiten Kapitel werden die verschiedenen Oxidationsstufen des [Ru(OEP)(NO)(X)]n+ (n = +2, +1, 0, −1, OEP = Octethylporphyrindianion) mit verschiedenen axialen Liganden X (H2O, Pyridin, 4-Cyanopyridin, 4-Dimethylaminopyridin) spektroskopisch untersucht. Die elektronische Struktur der Komplexe wurde zufriedenstellend durch DFT Rechnungen geklärt. In Kapitel 3 wird der Komplex (PPh4)4[(CN)4(NO)Re(μ-O)Re(NO)(CN)4], eine sauerstoffverbrückte Rheniumdinitrosylverbindung mit Cyanid als Co-Ligand, beschrieben. Der Komplex ist strukturell und spektroskopisch charakterisiert. Molekülstrukturanalyse bestätigen die lineare Anordnung der Nitrosylgruppen sowie der Re-O-Re Einheit. Die Verbindung weist zwei scharfe ν(NO) Banden bei 1710 cm−1 und 1670 cm−1 und zwei deutliche ν(CN) Banden bei 2118 und 2129 cm-1 in Acetonitril auf. Im zweiten Teil dieser Arbeit werden verschiedene Komplexe mit 1,2-Dioxolen-artigen "non-innocent" Liganden (Q bzw. Q0) oder die Kombination zweier nicht unschuldiger Liganden Q und NO in einem System, beschrieben. In Kapitel 4 werden vier Ruthenium o-Iminochinonkomplexe und die tatsächliche Verteilung der Ladung zwische

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