The University College of Science, Technology and Agriculture (commonly or formerly known as Rashbehari Siksha Prangan or Rajabazar Science College) is a university campus, one of five main campuses of the University of Calcutta (CU). The college served as the cradle of Indian Sciences by winning the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 and many fellowships of the Royal Society London.
Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a growing public health concern in the Gaza Strip, where late-stage diagnosis and low screening rates contribute to preventable mortality. Cultural, logistical, and systemic barriers complicate screening uptake, necessitating a deeper understanding of multi-level drivers to inform targeted interventions. We aimed to explore multi-level drivers and facilitators influencing CRC screening uptake in Gaza through a qualitative analysis of perspectives from patients, families, community leaders, healthcare providers, and policy-makers, identifying actionable themes and subthemes. Methods: We conducted a multi-level qualitative research design. Data were collected through a series of focus group discussions. Participants included patients, family members, community representatives, healthcare providers, and policy-makers in the Gaza Strip. Thematic analysis was done by identifying and categorising drivers of major themes and corresponding subthemes. Results Our analysis identified several multi-level drivers of CRC screening in Gaza. Cultural alignment (We are Muslims… no myths), financial incentives, and clinician guidance motivated participation at the individual level. Families fostered support through encouragement ( no hindering traditions ) and media /workshops. Communities leveraged religious leaders ( mosques spread health messages ), peer testimonials, and media campaigns. Organisations promoted screening via paid leave, telemedicine, and NGO partnerships ( 60% uptake via mobile units ). Policy-makers prioritised affordability, awareness campaigns ( national policies influence decisions ), and legislative mandates. Systemic integration of culturally aligned strategies, trusted networks (families, leaders), and education across levels emerged as pivotal to enhancing CRC screening uptake and reducing mortality. Conclusion The success of CRC screening is attributed to aligning interventions with cultural values, leveraging trusted networks, and systemic integration. A coordinated approach across individual, familial, community, organisational, and policy levels is critical to enhancing CRC screening uptake and reducing mortality.
This study developed hybrid concrete incorporating crumb rubber (CR), micro-steel fibers (STF), silica fume (SF), and metakaolin (MK) to balance strength, stiffness, deformability, and energy absorption. Twenty-six mixtures were produced using 5–20% CR as a volumetric replacement for river sand, 0.5–2.0% STF by concrete volume, and 10% SF and 10% MK, each by cement mass. Workability, compressive strength at 7–96 days, splitting tensile strength, flexural response, modulus of elasticity, compressive and flexural toughness, and SEM–EDX characteristics were evaluated. The combined SF–MK addition increased the 28-day compressive strength from 70.43 to 84.20 MPa, an improvement of 19.55% over the plain control. Increasing STF enhanced strength, crack resistance, and post-cracking energy absorption, whereas CR reduced strength and stiffness but improved deformability. The mixture containing 1.5% STF and 10% CR achieved a balanced response, with a 28-day cube compressive strength of 77.65 MPa and flexural toughness of 80.71 N·m. The highest hybrid flexural toughness, 103.04 N·m, was obtained with 2.0% STF and 10% CR. SEM–EDX observations supported the mechanical trends. The novelty lies in demonstrating a combined contribution whereby STF and the SF–MK blend substantially compensate for CR-induced mechanical losses while preserving deformability, yielding structural-grade concrete with improved energy-absorption capacity.
Disruption of solid waste management during war can generate severe environmental and public health risks, particularly in densely populated urban settings. Since the escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip in late 2023, widespread infrastructure destruction, population displacement, and interruption of municipal services have substantially affected waste collection and disposal systems. This study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution and environmental hotspots of disrupted solid waste management in the Gaza Strip using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based spatial analysis. A cross-sectional spatial analysis was conducted using field observations, humanitarian datasets, municipal records, and publicly available geospatial information. Spatial point data were compiled, cleaned, georeferenced, and analyzed in a common coordinate reference system. Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) was used as a descriptive method to identify relative hotspot intensity, and overlay analysis was applied to assess spatial coincidence with population density and displacement locations. Geocoded locations of waste accumulation and open burning sites were mapped across the Gaza Strip. Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) was applied to identify spatial hotspots, while overlay analysis was used to examine relationships between waste-related hotspots, population density, and displacement locations. The analysis identified 54 temporary dumpsites across the five governorates, representing an estimated cumulative waste volume of approximately 4,110,000 m3. North Gaza contained the largest reported dumpsites, including a single temporary dumpsite in Jabalia estimated at 2400,000 m3, while Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Rafah exhibited the most pronounced hotspot clustering. Waste accumulation and open burning were detected across all governorates, with high-intensity hotspots strongly associated with densely populated urban areas and displacement camps where municipal waste services were severely disrupted. Open burning hotspots frequently overlapped with waste accumulation zones, indicating areas of compounded environmental stress. Governorate-level analysis demonstrated substantial spatial variability in hotspot intensity and distribution, reflecting differences in population concentration, accessibility, infrastructure damage, and displacement pressure. The analysis was intended to identify relative spatial concentrations rather than estimate absolute waste quantities or infer causal relationships. The findings highlight the significant environmental consequences of war-related disruption of waste management systems and demonstrate the value of GIS-based approaches for identifying priority environmental risk zones under complex emergency conditions. Spatial hotspot analysis can support evidence-based humanitarian and environmental response planning by improving prioritization of emergency waste management interventions in conflict-affected settings. Future research integrating temporal environmental monitoring and health-related indicators is recommended to better assess the long-term environmental and public health implications of disrupted waste management in Gaza.
BACKGROUND:The Gaza Strip's health system has been disrupted by conflict since October 2023, alongside damage to electricity, water, sanitation and transport systems. This study assessed healthcare functionality, infrastructure disruption and public health outcomes, and identified priority recovery strategies. METHODS:A retrospective quantitative analysis used secondary data from October 2023 to February 2025 from WHO HeRAMS, the Palestinian Ministry of Health, OCHA and UNOSAT. Indicators covered hospital functionality, workforce availability, medical supply continuity, energy, water, sanitation, transport access and communicable disease incidence across five governorates. Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation, Success Tree Analysis (STA), Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and spatial mapping were applied. RESULTS:Of 38 hospitals, 23.7% were fully functional, 44.7% partially functional and 31.6% non-functional; North Gaza had the highest non-functionality (50%). Physician density declined by 45%, and only 48% of facilities reported essential medicines. Electricity and water functionality fell to 27% and 35%. Diarrhoeal disease and respiratory infection incidence reached 72.4 and 96.5 cases per 10,000 population. Electricity availability correlated strongly with hospital functionality (ρ = 0.82, p < 0.001), while water functionality correlated inversely with diarrhoeal disease incidence (ρ = -0.76, p < 0.001). STA estimated that integrated restoration of energy, water, workforce and supplies could increase hospital functionality to 89% within 5 months. MCDA prioritised rapid infrastructure repair, renewable energy integration and water network rehabilitation. DISCUSSION:Healthcare recovery in Gaza depends on coordinated restoration of interdependent infrastructure and health-system components. Recovery planning should be integrated, multi-sectoral and geographically targeted to reduce disease burden and strengthen resilience in conflict-affected settings.
Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a growing public health concern in the Gaza Strip, where late-stage diagnosis and low screening rates contribute to preventable mortality. Cultural, logistical, and systemic barriers complicate screening uptake, necessitating a deeper understanding of multi-level drivers to inform targeted interventions. Objective To explore multi-level drivers and facilitators influencing CRC screening uptake in Gaza through a qualitative analysis of perspectives from patients, families, community leaders, healthcare providers, and policy-makers, identifying actionable themes and subthemes. Methods We conducted a multi-level qualitative research design between September and December 2024. Data were collected through a series of focus group discussions. Participants included patients, family members, community representatives, healthcare providers, and policy-makers in the Gaza Strip. Thematic analysis was done by identifying and categorising drivers of major themes and corresponding subthemes. Results Our analysis identified several multi-level drivers of CRC screening in Gaza. Individual-level drivers included perceived susceptibility, health awareness, and fear of diagnosis. Family encouragement and social support facilitated screening at the interpersonal level. Community influences included religious messaging, social norms, and cancer-related stigma. Organizational factors involved healthcare accessibility, physician recommendation, and trust in health services. At the policy-level, participants emphasized the importance of screening affordability, awareness initiatives, and healthcare system support. These influences were shaped by the broader context of healthcare instability and economic hardship in Gaza. Conclusions CRC screening behavior in Gaza is influenced by multilevel social, behavioral, and structural factors. Contextually appropriate interventions that strengthen healthcare access, public awareness, provider engagement, systemic integration, and community trust may improve screening uptake and reducing mortality in conflict-affected settings
