Bio-degradable polymers are rapidly emerging as a sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics and polymers. However, the synthesis and processing of such polymers present unique challenges and opportunities. In this comprehensive volume, Dr. Saha and her team provide an in-depth exploration of the synthesis and processing of bio-degradable polymers and their emerging applications in various sectors from  drug  delivery  to food packaging. Covering a wide range of topics, including synthesis, modification, processing techniques, and few of their advanced applications in emerging areas, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the field. The authors also delve into cutting-edge research on the synthesis, properties and applications of bio-degradable polymers in various fields, such as agricultural, food preservation, biomedical arena, energy storage and other advanced application areas. This volume is an essential resource for scientists, engineers, and policymakers interested in the future of sustainable materials. Whether you are a researcher looking to expand your knowledge of biodegradable polymer synthesis and processing or a policymaker interested in the potential of biodegradable polymers to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, this book is an invaluable guide to the field.

Architecture China focuses on cutting-edge architectural designs with regional characteristics in contemporary China. This issue, Winter 2020, Architecture as Infrastructure, selects a series of pioneering architectural cases in China elaborating on how a new kind of architectural infrastructure can be formulated. It includes two essays respectively written by Zhang Bin and Tan Zheng, and the built projects of the 11th Horticultural Exposition of Jiangsu Province. Another series of built projects "Toilet Revolution" is also included. Both the academic writings and architectural practice in this issue reveal the hidden potential of urban infrastructure in the current construction in China.

This issue, Fall 2020, Building with Nature: Architecture China Award, is a catalogue of the award, one of the most prestigious architectural awards in China. Organised by Architecture China, it embraces the concept of building with nature proposed by the 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate Wang Shu. There are four categories: Excellence Award in Practice, Exploration Award in Techniques, Prospect Award for Youth, and Jury Special Award. The evaluation committee members of the award include Wang Shu, Cui Kai, Yung Ho Chang, Li Xiangning, Ge Ming, Wang Lu, Aric Chen, Ching-Yueh Roan, Benedetta Tagliabue, Iwan Baan and Philip Ursprung.

Activist, journalist, and theorist, Eqbal Ahmad (1934--1999) was admired and consulted by revolutionaries and activists as well as policymakers and academics. In articles and columns published in such journals as the "Nation," "New York Review of Books," "Monthly Review," and newspapers in Pakistan and Cairo, Ahmad inspired new ways of thinking about global issues. Whether writing on the rise of militant Islam, the conflict in Kashmir, U.S. involvement in Vietnam, or the cynical logic of Cold War geopolitics, Ahmad offered incisive, passionate, and often prophetic analyses of the major political events and movements of the second half of the twentieth century.

This work is the first to collect Ahmad's writings in a single volume. It reflects his distinct understanding of world politics as well as his profound sense of empathy for those living in poverty and oppression. He was a fierce opponent of imperialism and corruption and advocated democratic transformations in postcolonial and third-world societies. A uniquely perceptive critic of colonialism and U.S. foreign policy, Ahmad was equally vigilant in his criticisms of third-world dictatorships.

Like few other writers, Ahmad's life experiences shaped his political views. He grew up amidst the turmoil of postcolonial India, worked alongside the Algerian FLN in their fight against the French occupation, and later became a prominent spokesperson for peace between Israel and Palestine.

Activist, journalist, and theorist, Eqbal Ahmad (1934--1999) was admired and consulted by revolutionaries and activists as well as policymakers and academics. In articles and columns published in such journals as the "Nation," "New York Review of Books," "Monthly Review," and newspapers in Pakistan and Cairo, Ahmad inspired new ways of thinking about global issues. Whether writing on the rise of militant Islam, the conflict in Kashmir, U.S. involvement in Vietnam, or the cynical logic of Cold War geopolitics, Ahmad offered incisive, passionate, and often prophetic analyses of the major political events and movements of the second half of the twentieth century.

This work is the first to collect Ahmad's writings in a single volume. It reflects his distinct understanding of world politics as well as his profound sense of empathy for those living in poverty and oppression. He was a fierce opponent of imperialism and corruption and advocated democratic transformations in postcolonial and third-world societies. A uniquely perceptive critic of colonialism and U.S. foreign policy, Ahmad was equally vigilant in his criticisms of third-world dictatorships.

Like few other writers, Ahmad's life experiences shaped his political views. He grew up amidst the turmoil of postcolonial India, worked alongside the Algerian FLN in their fight against the French occupation, and later became a prominent spokesperson for peace between Israel and Palestine.