Antecedents and Mediating Role of Green Buying Behavior

Sustainability of the environment is one of the major issues both in developed and developing countries. There is an abundance of studies on green buying behavior. However, a few have studied the mediating role of green buying behavior. Thus, we have developed a new model that has five direct and three mediating relationships. This empirical research has used a snowball sampling technique for collecting the data. We distributed 400 questionnaires and received 377 valid responses. The study has used Smart PLS software for data analysis, including reliability, validity, and generating measurement and structural models. We found that green brands, green identification, and social influence are significant predictors of green buying behavior. Further, we find that the green brand image and green buying behavior promote green satisfaction. The results also suggest that green buying behavior mediates (1) green image and green satisfaction, (2) social influence and green buying behavior, (3) self-identification, and green satisfaction. We also found that consumers have a favorable attitude towards green buying behavior. However, there is a huge gap in consumers’ attitudes and actual buying behavior. Thus, marketers and practitioners need to develop strategies that would translate a favorable attitude toward actual buying behavior

Eco-friendly Entrepreneurship to Promote Plastic Alternatives

Plastic production has become a global concern, including in Bangladesh. Among all types of plastic products, single-use plastic is considered treacherous and the most responsible for damaging the natural environment. To replace plastics on a daily usage basis, the entrepreneurs of Bangladesh have reiterated some initiatives to manufacture and promote plastic alternatives. This study aims to assess the market potential, existing challenges, and users’/customers’ perceptions of the plastic alternative industry in Bangladesh. Key informant interviews (KIIs) with structured questionnaires were conducted among 15 plastic alternative entrepreneurs and 30 customers through online platforms. The framework analysis method was used to analyse and interpret the collected data. Despite highlighting some challenges, plastic alternative entrepreneurs contribute significantly to replacing plastic products, and the market potential is quite promising for this industry. Moreover, this study portrays an efficacious inclination of consumer behaviours towards using plastic alternatives. By following the concept of the green economy, the entrepreneurs of the plastic alternative industry in Bangladesh are gradually able to replace plastic products and contribute toward building a sustainable city

Construct validity of UroSim ® simulator for learning transurethral resection of bladder tumor

Objective: There is an increasing trend to incorporate Simulator-based training in urology residency programs. The study was designed to determine the construct validity of UroSim® for that we compared the performance of transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) between experts and novices.Material and methods: We conducted a cross sectional study at a university hospital to determine the construct validity of UroSim® for TURBT. We compared the outcome measures between experts (urology consultants) and novices (residents) to determine relationship between clinical experience and performance on simulator. Primary outcome measure was resection time and secondary outcome measures were safety, bleeding, and visualization during TURBT on UroSim. We requested participant to resect three tumors to assess the test content of the simulator. Comparison of continuous variables such as resection time, resection, bleeding control, and visualization and blood loss using student t test. Comparison of categorical variable, i.e. perforation of bladder, using Fischer exact test.Results: We included 30 experts and 30 novices. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean resection time between the groups (196±67.4 sec versus 374.6±179.7 sec; p=0.01), suggesting a positive relationship between clinical experience and performance on simulator. Additionally, safety parameters, namely, bleeding control, inadvertent cuts into bladder wall, ureteric orifices, and bladder perforations varied between the two groups.Conclusion: We observed significant differences of parameters in performance between experts and novices. Simulator is a useful tool for teaching TURBT as it demonstrates good construct validity and recommended in urology training for teaching psychomotor skills

Recent Developments in Zn-Based Biodegradable Materials for Biomedical Applications

Zn-based biodegradable alloys or composites have the potential to be developed to next-generation orthopedic implants as alternatives to conventional implants to avoid revision surgeries and to reduce biocompatibility issues. This review summarizes the current research status on Zn-based biodegradable materials. The biological function of Zn, design criteria for orthopedic implants, and corrosion behavior of biodegradable materials are briefly discussed. The performance of many novel zinc-based biodegradable materials is evaluated in terms of biodegradation, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties. Zn-based materials perform a significant role in bone metabolism and the growth of new cells and show medium degradation without the release of excessive hydrogen. The addition of alloying elements such as Mg, Zr, Mn, Ca, and Li into pure Zn enhances the mechanical properties of Zn alloys. Grain refinement by the application of post-processing techniques is effective for the development of many suitable Zn-based biodegradable materials

Comparison of percutaneous vs. open cystolithotomy for urinary bladder stone in pediatric population

Introduction: Urinary Bladder stone can result in variety of lower urinary tract symptoms. Bladder stone is common in extreme of ages i.e. pediatric population and geriatic population. Overall prevelance of the disease is not that high. With increase in health care facilities and screening investigations like ultrasound, this condition is easily diagnosed. Traditionally just like renal or ureteric stones open cystolithotomy was the treatment of choice but with advancement in endourological instruments and miniturization it is now frequently dealt by minimally invasive techniques like percutaneous cystolithotomy. The aim of our study was to compare the results of urinary bladder stone surgical managements. Methods: After ERC approval we conducted this descriptive retrospective study. For data collection record of pediatric patients admitted in Urology Unit, Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar Pakistan during the period from April 2022 to January 2023 was used. 110 pediatric patients with urinary bladder (UB) stones who underwent surgery were enrolled in our study. According to type of intervention, patients were stratified into two groups, (Group O) underwent open cystolithotomy, and (Group P) underwent endo-urological treatment via the percutaneous route.60 patients underwent open cystolithotomy (OCL), while 50 patients  underwent percutaneous cystolithotomy (PCCL).&nbsp

Isolation and In Silico Prediction of Potential Drug-like Compounds with a New Dimeric Prenylated Quinolone Alkaloid from Zanthoxylum rhetsa (Roxb.) Root Extracts Targeted against SARS-CoV-2 (Mpro)

A new dimeric prenylated quinolone alkaloid, named 2,11-didemethoxy-vepridimerine A, was isolated from the root bark of Zanthoxylum rhetsa, together with twelve known compounds. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic investigations (NMR and Mass). The interaction of the isolated compounds with the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 (Mpro) was evaluated using molecular docking followed by MD simulations. The result suggests that 2,11-didemethoxy-vepridimerine A, the new compound, has the highest negative binding affinity against the Mpro with a free energy of binding of −8.5 Kcal/mol, indicating interaction with the Mpro. This interaction was further validated by 100 ns MD simulation. This implies that the isolated new compound, which can be employed as a lead compound for an Mpro-targeting drug discovery program, may be able to block the action of Mpro