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From ancient times, fermentation has been utilized globally by various ethnic communities to preserve and store locally available food items. Traditionally, fermented food and beverages have been an integral part of cultural and social ceremonies of these communities. Fermented food products have been shown to have immense health benefits and are slowly gaining popularity among younger generations. The state of West Bengal (India) has an array of geographically diverse ethnic communities and rich food culture. In this article, a few of the most popular fermented food and beverages across entire West Bengal have been looked into from microbiological and nutritional point of view. The preparation process of each product has been discussed in brief along with the positive and negative aspects of fermented food and beverages. We also compared the main ingredients and end product of fermentation with respect to nutritional value. Many families earn livelihood from selling homemade fermented food and beverages but they should be trained properly to avoid food borne infections, poisoning or fatalities from consumption of fermented products. Development is also needed in making specific government regulations regarding the fermented food and beverages. It is also essential to document and study the existing as well as unexplored fermented food and beverages and standardizing their preparation process as there is a huge scope of commercialization of fermented food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) being major public health problems in India, including West Bengal needs to be continuously monitored through recommended methods and indicators. Present study is aiming to assess the total goiter rate, urinary iodine excretion, iodine content of salts at households’ level among primary school children and to find association with the socio-demographic characteristics of the study population. Method: A school-based, cross-sectional study was conducted during March 2019 to August 2019 among 540 schoolchildren of class three and four. Goiter was assessed by standard palpation technique, urinary iodine excretion (UIE) was analyzed by wet digestion method and salt samples were tested by spot iodine testing kits. The total goiter rate (TGR) was 10.56 %. About 97.22 % of the salt samples tested were adequately iodized. Though consumption of iodized salt was adequate irrespective of socio demographic characteristics; goiter prevalence was significantly different with respect to mother’s education level. Median urinary iodine excretion was found to be with in normal range. Lastly, a comparison is made between indicators of IDD over years which showed significant fall of TGR % of North 24 Pgs and a significant increase of adequately iodized salt consumption from 2004 to 2019. Conclucion: 2019 resurvey of North 24 parganas indicates that the district achieved close to the goal of NIDDCP i.e. prevalence of IDD should be below 10%. It also proved that universal salt iodinization program has increased the household’s iodine consumption above national goal of 91.2%. Goiter prevalence is found to be less in children whose mother attend the education upto 12th standard and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an analysis of the heterogeneous preferences of farmers towards groundwater pump technologies. The research uses primary field data drawn from West Bengal, India, where the progressive feminisation of agriculture has been well‐documented. We employ a paired comparison technique to explore how gender impacts the preferences towards different attributes of pumping technology. Our findings illustrate that preferences for irrigation pump attributes vary significantly between farmer groups, and policies that put technologies in the hands of some groups versus others could have significantly different impacts on how pumps are ultimately used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers a new reading of Jhumpa Lahiri's novel The Lowland (2013), focused on the protagonist Gauri, by challenging earlier critical accounts of her character. Using an intersectional analysis supported by insights from trauma studies, it scrutinizes the elements that shape Gauri as a woman, revolutionary, wife, mother, and migrant. It argues that her persona is best understood as a product of her multiple interactions with the world and their related discourses within The Lowland's exploration of the impact of the Naxalite Movement (1967–72) on a conservative middle-class Bengali family and especially on Gauri's development. Contending that existing readings of Lahiri's narrative are constrained by gaps in intersectional understandings or misunderstandings of the impact of trauma caused by her engagement with the Movement, the article offers a reading of how Lahiri's protagonist subverts heteronormative discourses in multiple contexts, voicing her trauma culturally through actions rather than words. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identification of mental health disorders during childhood is crucial for healthy 'adult roles' in the society, so this study aimed to estimate the magnitude of 'any mental health disorder' and to find out its correlates among children attending the pediatric out-patient department (OPD) of a medical college in West Bengal and to estimate parental stress among their parents. Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study done in the pediatric OPD of Burdwan Medical College, West Bengal, during July--December, 2021. The calculated size of 288 children aged between 4 and 12 years and attending with either of their parents was selected through systematic random sampling. One of their parents (preferably mother) was interviewed using a schedule, containing a pre-validated pediatric symptom checklist and parental stress scale. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Data were analyzed using SPSS-v23. Results: The median age of the children was 7 years (5--8 y.). The majority of them were male (57.6%), lived in urban areas (59.0%), and lived in joint families (57.6%). One-fifth (20.5%) of the children were found to have any mental health disorder (AMHD). Living in an urban area (aOR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1--5.7), belonging to a nuclear family (aOR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.7--8.1), and belonging to a family with social problems (aOR = 7.8, 95% CI: 2.3--27.2) were significant correlates of AMHD. Parental stress [median: 60 (55--63)] was found significantly higher (P < 0.001) among parents of children with AMHD as compared to the parents of others. Conclusion: The magnitude of AMHD was high in this study, indicating toward the necessity of implementing opportunistic screening and appropriate public health action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers' use of agricultural technology is necessary for reducing poverty. However, women make up most poor smallholder farmers in India and are generally unable to access relevant opportunities. Tandem to supporting women farmers in technology adoption is increasing their empowerment. While women's empowerment has been on policy agendas in India for several years, progress has been slow and results are mixed. Using primary data from West Bengal, this study finds that female farmers with access to agricultural technologies will likely have social advantages over those without, but institutional and social support is necessary to facilitate real empowerment and overall development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop selection is a necessary step to take before beginning a farming venture. In India, reliable weather information helps farmers to plan their labor schedules for maximizing crop productivity, and it has a chief influence on crop output. Several researchers enunciate, present variations in temperature, carbon dioxide levels, winds, humidity, and precipitation directly affect crop production. Any weather anomalies lead to atmospheric stresses, making these farmers more susceptible to financial losses. By these concerns, this manuscript proposes a novel Recalling Enhanced Sigmoid Recurrent Neural Network with Manta Ray optimization (RESRNN-MR) for weather prediction and Cycle Consistent Generative Adversarial Network with Color Harmony algorithm (CCGAN-CH) for crop selection of the chosen Tarakeswar village of Hooghly district in West Bengal (WB), India. The outcomes depict that the introduced model attains a higher accuracy (99%) than the traditional techniques. Tests such as the Chi-square test and Cochran's Q test are done to prove the statistical analysis of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tribes are the most socially excluded group in the nation due to their restricted access to healthcare. There are little data on the real burden and distribution of illnesses among tribes. The present study determines the types and patterns of sickness among tribal populations in West Bengal. Methods: Five blocks from five districts in West Bengal were used for this cross-sectional study. Between the years 2018 and 2019, 52,189 patients visited these mobile medical clinics (MMCs), but only 36,128 were included in our study. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software (ver. 27.0). Results: Younger age groups (1-25 years) show higher primary registration compared to other age categories; older age groups (>60 years) show higher repeat registration. High prevalence in infectious diseases (44.5% of the total primary registration) and high repeated cases in NCDs (11.5% to 33.2%), which are nearly three times higher than primary cases (Cramer's V test = 0.29; P =.001) are observed. Among the studied MMCs, Binpur II and Matiali MMC have more than two times the risk of gastrointestinal problems, while Madarihat MMC has more than one time the risk. Garbeta II MMC shows more than three times the risk of NCDs (adjusted odds ratio = 3.97; 95% confidence interval: 3.05-5.17) than the other diseases. Conclusion: The present study shows high prevalence of infectious diseases, injury and pain, NCDs, gastrointestinal problems, and vertigo in tribal populations of West Bengal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands provide numerous ecological and economic services to mankind. The soils of wetlands are one of the largest sinks of carbon (C) among the terrestrial ecosystems and can play an important role in offsetting the emission of C as a greenhouse gas (GHG) to the atmosphere. India is bestowed with enriched wetland ecosystems that support diverse and unique habitats. The potential of the wetlands in terms of C capture and sequestration has not been quantified. Therefore, in the present paper, an assessment of C capture from different sources and its ultimate deposition in soils leading to sequestration has been done in three different types of wetlands, one created sewage-fed and two natural floodplain oxbow lakes, in the West Bengal state of India. Multiple seasonal sampling of water, macrophytes, and soil was done to assess the primary productivity, dissolved C, and deposition of C in soils of the wetlands in comparison to reference upland sites. All these wetlands are productive ecosystems as indicated by the physicochemical parameters of water and soil. The quantity of C accumulated up to 0.3 m depth in the oxbow lakes was to the tune of 144–166 Mg/ha, which was 3.43–4.78 times higher than that in the corresponding reference upland sites. In the sewage-fed wetland, the C accumulation estimated as 50 Mg/ha was 1.27 times higher than its corresponding upland site. So, the wetland ecosystems, particularly the floodplains, are highly efficient in accumulating C in their soils and thus can somewhat negate the GHG emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is one of the most significant threats to human safety due to its detrimental health consequences worldwide. This study examines the air pollution levels in 22 districts of West Bengal from 2016 to 2021, using data from 81 stations operated by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB). The study assesses the short- and long-term impacts of particulate matter (PM) on human health. The highest annual variation of PM10 was noted in 2016 (106.99 ± 34.17 μg/m3), and the lowest was reported in 2020 (88.02 ± 13.61 μg/m3), whereas the highest annual variations of NO2 (μg/m3) were found in 2016 (35.17 ± 13.55 μg/m3), and lowest in 2019 (29.72 ± 13.08 μg/m3). Similarly, the SO2 level was lower (5.35 μg/m3) in 2017 and higher in 2020 (7.78 μg/m3). In the state, Bardhaman, Bankura, Kolkata, and Howrah recorded the highest PM10 concentrations. The monthly and seasonal variations of pollution showed higher in December, January, and February (winter season) and lowest observed in June, July, and August (rainy season). The southern part of West Bengal state has recorded higher pollution levels than the northern part. The short- and long-term health impact assessment due to particulate matter shows that the estimated number of attributable cases (ENACs) for incidence of chronic bronchitis in adults and prevalence of bronchitis in children were 305,234 and 14,652 respectively. The long-term impact of PM2.5 on human health ENACs for mortality due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for adults, acute lower respiratory infections in children aged 0–5, lung cancer, and stroke for adults were 21,303, 12,477, 25,064, 94,406, and 86,272 respectively. This outcome assists decision-makers and stakeholders in effectively addressing the air pollution and health risk concerns within the specified area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sanitation indicates a healthy, dignified, and developed lifestyle, which is also considered a fundamental human need. Sanitation problems are more profound in developing and underdeveloped countries. In the developing country India, the situation of WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) condition is poor in West Bengal ranked, 27th among the 36 States and Union Territories (UTs). The present study is concerned with the district-wise analysis of WASH conditions and their inequalities in West Bengal, based on the secondary data obtained from the NFHS-5. The composite index method has been used for exploring the WASH condition, and Atkinson’s index, Lorenz Curve, and Gini coefficient have been applied to understanding the district-wise heterogeneity of WASH conditions. Moreover, binary logistic regression has been applied to reveal the relationship between WASH conditions with various socioeconomic and demographic factors. The study recognized Kolkata records the best and Puruliya the worst WASH conditions among all the districts of West Bengal. Though most of the variables are unequal, the drainage facility reflects the highest heterogeneity across the state. Apart from this, the study found significant information regarding the association between WASH and socioeconomic factors. The households with a good wealth index accessed more improved sanitation, drainage, and handwashing facilities. Moreover, higher education exhibits more accessibility to improved toilets, drainage facilities, and handwashing facilities. Thus, the awareness of the people is necessary for receiving government grants properly and to improve their lifestyle. However, this study recommends the implementation of government initiatives at the local or micro level and the positive and honest participation of the local government bodies is also imperative for improving the WASH conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nasal oestrosis, an obligatory cavitary myiasis of sheep and goats is caused by the larvae of Oestrus ovis commonly known as sheep nasal bot. A female Jamunapari goat aged about 1.5-year-old presented with a history and symptoms of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) like the high rise of temperature (105ºC), anorexia, abdominal cramps, nasal discharge, and shooting diarrhoea since last 5 days. Two nasal bots were expelled during violent sneezing by the goat. The present study reports its successful therapeutic and clinical management of PPR and oestrosis of the Jamunapari goat from Barasat, West Bengal, India.

Background: Tribes are the most socially excluded group in the nation due to their restricted access to healthcare. There are little data on the real burden and distribution of illnesses among tribes. The present study determines the types and patterns of sickness among tribal populations in West Bengal. Methods: Five blocks from five districts in West Bengal were used for this cross-sectional study. Between the years 2018 and 2019, 52,189 patients visited these mobile medical clinics (MMCs), but only 36,128 were included in our study. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software (ver. 27.0). Results: Younger age groups (1-25 years) show higher primary registration compared to other age categories; older age groups (>60 years) show higher repeat registration. High prevalence in infectious diseases (44.5% of the total primary registration) and high repeated cases in NCDs (11.5% to 33.2%), which are nearly three times higher than primary cases (Cramer's V test = 0.29; P = .001) are observed. Among the studied MMCs, Binpur II and Matiali MMC have more than two times the risk of gastrointestinal problems, while Madarihat MMC has more than one time the risk. Garbeta II MMC shows more than three times the risk of NCDs (adjusted odds ratio = 3.97; 95% confidence interval: 3.05-5.17) than the other diseases. Conclusion: The present study shows high prevalence of infectious diseases, injury and pain, NCDs, gastrointestinal problems, and vertigo in tribal populations of West Bengal.

The Learning Management System (LMS) has been established in a number of Universities worldwide to help connect students and lecturers without the confines of the traditional classroom. The recent advancements in information and communication technologies have altered instructional contexts and re-shaped them into smart learning environments. Due to increasing number of available smart learning features, it has become indispensable to manage these features for effective and organized instructional processes. Currently, it is commonly seen that educational institutes operate their own LMS and provide various online smart learning features for a diverse group of students. This study aims to analyze key factors that can influence users’ preferences on LMS use and gain a deeper understanding of how to maximize the learning outcomes through LMS by considering six constructs, namely, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Institutional Initiatives, Individual Motives and Behavioural Intension. This study involved 120 of the undergraduate and postgraduate students of a Private University of West Bengal and utilized the validated Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to predict learners’ perceptions towards LMS adoption. Four essential success factors for LMS implementations have been emerged from the perceived dataset of the students of the University who have implemented LMS in their system. The study explores the potentiality of the acceptance of the Learning Management Systems perceived by the end users in the higher education system of West Bengal.

Understanding climate variability and trends is crucial for managing a host of sectors. Everything from water availability to agricultural productivity is affected by variability and trends in temperature, rainfall, evapotranspiration, and solar radiation. Nevertheless, their dynamics have seldom been explored together, especially in India. To address this gap, the present study investigates the variability, trend, and magnitude of those parameters individually and concurrently using fractal dimension and non-parametric statistics over the Indian state of West Bengal from 1951 to 2020. The results show a south–north gradient in overall climate variability. The Gangetic West Bengal (GWB) is experiencing higher variability, along with a rising minimum temperature (≥0.008 °C year−1) and declining rainfall (≥− 1 mm year−1). Though the Sub-Himalayan West Bengal as a whole shows less variability, its foothills reveal modest variation coupled with increasing maximum temperature (≥0.005 °C year−1), reference evapotranspiration (≥0.4 mm year−1), and decreasing rainfall in the post-monsoon and winter seasons. Based on the results, we identified the western GWB, the Sundarbans, and the sub-Himalayan foothills as the most vulnerable areas and recommended proactive crop and water management strategies. Finally, we underline the need to analyze climate dynamics holistically to manage climate-sensitive sectors efficiently and sustainably. HIGHLIGHTS Analyzed the variability, trend, and magnitudes of five critical climatic parameters.; The variability of climate dynamics shows a south–north gradient.; The western, coastal, and foothill regions exhibit a complex and uncertain climate.; The results are discussed in terms of their possible impacts on agricultural and water resources.;

West Bengal is situated primarily in the Surma Valley at the foothills of the Himalayas and near the western foreland of the Assam-Arakan Orogenic Belt. Several low to moderate-magnitude earthquakes are felt in the region frequently. In this study, we use integrated multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) models to assess the seismic vulnerability in West Bengal. Twenty-four parameters that were susceptible to seismicity in the region have been used to evaluate geotechnical, structural, social, and physical vulnerability. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) model was used to estimate the priorities of the parameters, which was then used to estimate seismic vulnerability using the VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) and the weighted sum method (WSM). The results reveal that approximately ∼17.81% of the total area and ∼65.36% population may fall under a high to very high-vulnerable zone, causing concerns for planning and disaster mitigation. The receiver operating characteristic curve estimated to validate the results, indicate that the AHP-VIKOR performs better for seismic vulnerability estimation. The results of this study may help various mitigation and planning agencies in identifying earthquake-vulnerable zones and preparing in advance for any potential large magnitude earthquakes that may occur in the region.

In Indian flora, there is the entry of many exotic plant species that came from tropical America, Africa, the Mediterranean region, China, Australia, and Malaysia, etc. mostly with food grains. The entry of these plant species, mostly the herbs and also the shrubs were reported from the then British India as many plants were taken for introduction to India. Some of these weeds had already established themselves in India due to the favorable tropical climatic condition and some flourished as dominant components in Indian flora, state flora, and also in local flora like in districts or regions. In West Bengal, there are many of them in the district of Paschim Medinipur. Due to the presence of these plant species in nature, many of them are used for different purposes and thus established their importance, particularly for medicinal uses. A few of them are of newly reported uses as known from the local people by query and some are studied as seen to be used for some diseases. Thus the newly recorded medicinal uses are presented here as additional reports besides their previous reported uses. All total 14 plant species of American origin are here presented with their life photographs, Botanical names including family and precise characters, along with English names, local names, native countries, reported previous uses and the present reports, mostly restricted to medicinal purposes.

Stunting is the impaired growth and development in children caused due to poor nutrition, recurrent infections and lack of psychosocial stimulus. Because stunting affects physical development and inhibits the child from attaining his full cognitive development as an adult, children may never regain the height lost due to stunting. Stunting (Low height-for-age) in infants and young children is a simple, wellknown indicator of undernutrition. The current study sought to determine the effects of socio-economic and demographic factors on the frequency of stunting among Bengalee girls. The study was carried out in the Deshopran block and Haldia municipality area (West Bengal, India). The total number of participants included in the study was 530 Bengalee girls. 53.39% (283) of study participants were urban residents while 46.61% (247) were rural residents. Stunted growth in children was defined as the height for a given age in children less than two standard deviations of the WHO Child Growth Standards. The prevalence of stunting among girls in our study was 11.13%. The predictor variables with substantial associations with stunting in the binary logistic regression (BLR) analyses were further used in the multiple binary logistic regression (MBLR) analyses. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to calculate the stunting risk. Results showed that the risk of stunting was significantly associated with low birth weight, presence of younger brothers, a large number of family members and place of delivery. Improving maternal and child access to nutrient-rich food, decreasing infectious disease, and promoting women empowerment initiatives are the main recommendations for resolving the issue.

The present study presents the length–weight relationships of five brackish water fish species from the coastal region of West Bengal for which this relationship not known to the present time, including Stigmatogobius sadanundio, Brachygobius nunus, Microphis cuncalus, Butis melanostigma and Puntius vittatus. The slope (b) value of the regression ranges between 2.551 and 3.319, with high correlation values (r2 ≥.943). The relative condition factor (Kn) was also calculated, being >1.0 for all species examined in the present study, indicating of the overall condition of the fish species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of biomedicine in India, vaccination has been studied in tandem with the colonial commitment to exercise control over imperial subjects. The history of smallpox vaccination in India is entangled with the Goddess Śītalā – "controller" of epidemics. Despite the eradication of the epidemic, faith in the goddess reigns among her devotees. This ethnographic study suggests that Śītalā devotees are informed by a plurality of understandings of body, disease, and prophylaxis in the Covidian age; I argue that Śītalā practices and the irreducible faith in the goddess aid in sustaining trust in biomedical interventions like vaccines among her devotees. Based on fieldwork conducted in West Bengal, I further argue that Śītalā's place as a "lesser" or "lower-caste" deity worshipped mostly by marginalized sections of society makes their active demand for vaccination an act of assertion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the distinct marriage customs of two Hindu Bengali communities in West Bengal: the Brahmins and the Poundra-Kshatriyas. It delves into the rituals, actions, and symbols integral to the marriage processes of these groups in Kolkata. The Brahmins, at the top of the caste hierarchy, have specific marriage rituals that affirm their caste status. In contrast, the Poundra-Kshatriyas, who are at the lower end of the hierarchy, follow different practices. The study compares these rituals and the significance of various traditional actions and changes, drawing on memoir interviews, genealogies, and case histories. It interprets these actions within the context of traditional activities, local terminology, rituals, beliefs, and marriage symbols. The research indicates that the observed differences in marriage customs between the two communities are historically rooted and reflect their social interactions and the material and symbolic aspects of their relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian people depend on rice for its significant nutritional value. The depreciating effect of cadmium (Cd) on rice crops is notably impulsive, leading to high changes in field and negotiating consumer health. A regional two-year survey of 30 fields of the district North 24 Parganas was conducted to study soil parameters contributing Cd uptake in rice grains and subsequently to compare phytochemical properties of seeds among 3 common cultivars. Based on soil Cd concentration, rice cultivars grown in high Cd (HCd) and low Cd (LCd) contaminated fields were chosen. The efficacy of grain nutrition status of each cultivar with HCd and LCd was compared. Our results revealed that soil pH, organic matter, carbonate, and minerals pronouncedly affected Cd accumulation in grains. Cd-exposed Khitish HCd grains displayed significant reduction of phytochemicals like sugar, phenol, thiamine, ascorbic acid, and riboflavin contents imposing major nutritional degradation of grains compared to Khitish LCd. Contrarily, Pratiksha grains exhibited moderate levels of degradation while Maharaj HCd showed the least alteration in phytochemical status with minimum-grain-quality degradation compared to other HCd cultivars. The element analysis also confirmed that the highest Cd content in Khitish grains holds this cultivar as Cd accumulator while low Cd in Maharaj grain makes this "Cd safe" cultivar. This investigation may be recommended to avert consumption of such rice cultivars that accumulate high Cd in grains, and precautions should be drawn to limit Cd accumulation in rice grains by implementing Cd remediating agents for better food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive and thorough research study was undertaken in Digha and the neighbouring coastline of West Bengal to investigate the benthic communities in the area. The survey identified a total of 16 species, including 12 previously unrecorded soft coral species at the study sites. As a result of this investigation and considering the existing data, the total number of octocoral species in the region has been revised to 20 species. This research contribution, specifically documented the new record of 12 soft coral species, i.e., Dendronephthya ganjamensis Henderson, 1909; Carijoa riisei (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860; Muricella ramosa Thomson & Henderson, 1905; Acanthogorgia muricata Verrill, 1883; Menella sp.; Subergorgia suberosa (Pallas, 1766); Acanella robusta Thomson & Henderson, 1906; Junceella juncea (Pallas, 1766); Verrucella umbracula (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Lituaria hicksoni Thomson & Simpson, 1909; Pteroeides punctatum Thomson & Simpson, 1909; and Pennatula indica Thomson & Henderson, 1906 within the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) represent a pivotal paradigm shift, rendering agricultural extension services more realistic and efficient manner, especially in the ever-changing agrarian landscape. Considering the importance of ICTs among rural producers, a study was conducted in the year 2021 to delineate the utilization pattern of ICTs in two purposively selected districts of West Bengal, one representing an agriculturally prosperous district (Purba Burdwan), while other being a backward district (Birbhum), constituting randomly selected 160 respondents engaged in crop and dairy farming. The information about weather forecasting for crop production and dairy animal management was the most utilized information by Purba Burdwan farmers, contrasting to Birbhum farmers' focus on marketing of crop produce and breeding of animals. Television and smartphones were the most preferred ICT tools. Multiple comparisons by Duncan Multiple Range Test revealed a notable disparity in ICT usage between the districts, with Purba Burdwan farmers exhibiting higher utilization levels. Additionally, the study identified strategic pathways to enhance ICT adoption, especially in the backward districts, thereby offering a roadmap for elevating the socio-economic conditions of farmers in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thorictus bengalensis Háva & Chakrovorty sp. nov. from West Bengal, India is described, illustrated and compared with similar Indian species. Trichomyrmex destructor (Jerdon, 1851) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae, Crematogastrini) is the host ant species. The interaction has been studied from an urban rooftopgarden. The species Thorictus wroughtoni Wasmann, 1912 stat. nov. is elevated from subspecies to a separate species. The check list of Thorictus species recorded from India is added. Additionally, a Goblin spider species, Gamasomorpha sp. Karsch, 1881 (Arachnida: Araneae: Araneomorphae: Oonopidae) was observed to be inhabiting the same nest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines how more democratic forms of state-citizen engagement can be engineered under less than favorable political conditions, through the case of the Village Development Committees under the Left Front government in West Bengal, India. Our research shows that these Committees embodied empowered participatory governance ideals and made meaningful contributions to citizens' participation within the local state, confirming the potential for well-designed institutions to deepen democratic engagement. However, this reform's abrupt reversal indicates that leftist parties are not automatically wholehearted supporters of empowered participatory governance, and that this reform needed to be connected to a wider set of claims about the Left Front's participatory successes, in order to build its legitimacy. Our wider argument is that research should examine not only the quality of participatory spaces themselves but also their political contexts, if we are to understand how experiments in empowered participatory governance can "scale up" and become durable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on the electoral legacies of civil war violence offers a puzzle. While one strand of research argues that indiscriminate rebel violence will have no effect on the electoral success of rebel-aligned parties, another argues that such violence will harden anti-rebel political attitudes in the long term. This article reconciles these conflicting predictions by examining post-conflict political attitudes over the short and medium term. We hypothesize that the organizational weaknesses that both underpin and result from indiscriminate rebel violence during civil war will constrain the vote mobilization strategies of rebel-aligned parties in post-civil war elections, eventually leading to a reversal of fortune in the medium term. We assess our hypothesis in the empirical context of the state of West Bengal in India, whose southwestern districts, collectively known as Junglemahal, experienced a spell of Maoist insurgency from 2005–2014. Taking a mixed methods approach, combining surveys across West Bengal and within Junglemahal with ethnographic research, we show that voter assessments of pre-election violence had changed sharply between the 2016 legislative assembly and 2019 parliamentary elections with violence triggering a backlash against the rebel-aligned incumbent party in 2019, but not in 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fairs often speak about the people and their embedded place. As an expressive space, fair mirrors the culture of the community and the emotional bond. The study unravels the fairs of West Bengal, an eastern state of India by exploring the physicality and the culture of a place that are momentous for the origin of fairs and their continuity through the generations. Thus, it is imperative to explore the diversities of fairs both in rural and urban settings of Bengal. Here, we used the available secondary data for entire Bengal to map out the regional patterns of fairs. Categorically, all the fairs were filtered using selected criteria and finally 979 were considered for the study out of 2023 by using Census data. Finding of the study reveals the regional patterns of fairs, which further tells on the spatio-temporal narratives along with the story of the traditionality and urban–rural connection with fairs. Again, the contribution of this paper establishes the linkages among the physical attributes, cultural imprint and fairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation plays a pivotal role in enhancing agricultural production and shaping the socioeconomic well-being of farmers. Consequently, the judicious and efficient utilization of irrigated water resources is imperative. This paper aims to investigate the spatial disparities in the level of irrigation development facilitated by tube wells and assess their influence on farmers' socio-economic conditions through a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis. Drawing from both primary and secondary data sources, our study unveils a positive correlation between the extent of tube well-irrigated areas and the overall irrigated land within the district. Notably, changes in the area under tube well irrigation exert a significant impact on the entire irrigation system. Among the various blocks in the district, Hili block exhibits the highest percentage of land allocated to tube well irrigation, while the Tapan block has the lowest proportion of such irrigated areas. The predominant occupation in the study area is agriculture, and a majority of the farmers have received education only up to the upper primary level, indicating limited educational representation. Our analysis reveals a positive impact of tube well irrigation on farmers' income, as evidenced by the results of the costbenefit analysis. In conclusion, the findings of this study herein underscore the importance of efficient water resource management and the role of tube well irrigation in bolstering agricultural productivity and livelihoods within the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species diversity and composition enable us to understand the conservation and management of an ecosystem. There is scarcity of knowledge in understanding the diversity change across the gradients of elevation, especially in the Himalaya. Here, we focused in the eastern Himalaya to investigate the patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity of true flies with relation to variation in altitude. The study was conducted in protected area (Neora Valley National Park) in the eastern Himalaya, India and the survey was conducted at five altitudinal zones (from 500 to 3,000 m). A total of 201 species of Diptera, with 105 genera and 33 families were recorded, of which 25 species are new to the state of West Bengal and seven species are new to India. The species diversity increased with elevation (maximum was near 2,500 m) and most of the flies preferred to be close to bushes with flowers, with a substantial percentage of them being pollinator species. Flies adapt to the various vegetation and climate patterns, which was evident by the abundance of fly species at high altitudes (1,500-2,500 m). Hence, it is very important to implement appropriate actions to protect the diversity of true flies in this Himalayan landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic has been associated with the occurrence of various carcinoma like skin, lung, bladder, kidney, liver, oral cavity. Its toxicity is reported to have been contributed through the intake of drinking water from various contaminated sources. However, its possible relationship with the intake of the metal contaminated fish flesh with the occurrence of carcinoma has not yet been well established. 83 oral malignant and 80 control individuals were selected for the study and on their proper consent, the hair samples were processed for arsenic estimation by the method of flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry. The data related to the determination of arsenic level in fish flesh obtained from the affected districts of West Bengal was collected from the literature. The statistical analysis of all the data was performed by using SPSS Version 10.1, which suggested a highly significant large positive correlation between the intake of arsenic contaminated fish and the occurrence of oral malignancy in the affected individuals (p value = 0.023). The study concludes that the intake of the metal contaminated fish can be a possible factor leading to the malignancy of the selected population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence and genetic diversity of the protozoan pathogen Giardia duodenalis have been extensively studied worldwide. There is currently a lack of data regarding the genetic variability of the organism in eastern India. Understanding the circulating genotypes and associated risk factors is crucial for effective planning and implementing control measures. Therefore, the objective of the study was to conduct an epidemiological study to determine the prevalence and identify the various genotypes present. This survey adds to our knowledge on the occurrence and distribution of Giardia genotypes in the studied region. The overall prevalence was found to be 6.8%. This parasitic infection was significantly associated with two age groups, i.e., >0–5 years and >5–12 years. Using a multilocus genotyping method, we genotyped 52 human Giardia isolates that were obtained from diarrheal patients. Two distinct assemblages were found in the population—30.8% belonged to assemblage A; 63.5% belonged to assemblage B, prevalent in the population; and 5.7% belonged to a combined assemblage A+B. Sub-assemblage AII was found in 17.3% of the cases, followed by sub-assemblage AI (13.5%). High levels of genetic diversity were found within the population of assemblage B undergoing balancing selection. Overall, the high prevalence of the parasite observed, particularly among children, raises a major concern and necessitates implementation of robust control measures. Furthermore, we report the presence of numerous unique genotypes, circulating in this limited geographical boundary, which can be useful dataset for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) encompasses use of hygienic absorbents, appropriate frequency of changing, genital hygiene and disposal. Inadequate facilities at school pose a formidable barrier for MHM. Objective: To assess the practices related to MHM and their correlates among school going adolescent girls aged 15-19 yrs and explore the enablers and barriers of MHM from the participant’s perspective. Methodology: This concurrent mixed method study with cross-sectional design and phenomenological approach for quantitative and qualitative part respectively, was undertaken in public schools of Berhampore Municipality, Murshidabad district during September-November’23. The quantitative study was contemplated among 204 eligible participants selected through multistage random sampling. Data on background variables and variables related to MHM were collected with a predesigned, pretested self-administered questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS.20. For qualitative component, In-Depth Interviews (IDI) were done on purposively selected eight participants, representing different schools and age groups. IDIs were transcribed in verbatim and thematic analysis was done. Results: All participants used sanitary pads; 53.9%, 17.64% and 20.5% changed pads at appropriate frequency (four times/day), cleaned external genitalia (thrice/day) and disposed in covered bins respectively. Only 11.3% had favourable MHM (at least 3 correct practices out of 4). Maternal education [(OR:3.44; (1.28-9.27)]and occupation [(OR:7.01; (2.23-21.99)], socio economic status [(OR:5.66;(1.52-21.02)], access to continuous water supply [(OR:15.40;(4.38-54.10)] and disposal facilities[(OR:2.88;(1.15-7.22)] were significantly associated with MHM. On thematic analysis major enablers explored were conducive home environment, communication with parents, access to hygienic absorbents and access to washrooms with water supply at school; lack of access to hygienic washrooms and proper disposal facility at school, long duration of school and limited communication were identified as barriers for MHM. Conclusion: Among the school girls in this area unfavourable MHM was alarmingly high, surfacing multiple factors amenable to change by ensuring access to proper services/facilities and communication about MHM.

Earthquakes are one of the natural hazards that threaten human lives and properties. Consequently, seismic risk assessment plays a significant role in disaster mitigation. This study estimates seismic risk in West Bengal, India, by integrating the two multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) models: analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and Entropy. Integrated AHP-Entropy is used to determine vulnerability, seismic hazard, and coping capacity. The seismic risk was then assessed by integrating the thematic information of vulnerability, seismic hazard, and coping capacity. The results show that about 19% of the total area and 70% of the total population in West Bengal may be at very high seismic risk. The result is validated through a receiver operating characteristic curve, displaying satisfactory performance in seismic risk estimation. The findings of this study may help governmental agencies identify seismic-risk zones and establish seismic hazard plans in advance against any potential threat in the study region.

Nasal oestrosis, an obligatory cavitary myiasis of sheep and goats is caused by the larvae of Oestrus ovis commonly known as sheep nasal bot. A female Jamunapari goat aged about 1.5-year-old presented with a history and symptoms of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) like the high rise of temperature (105°C), anorexia, abdominal cramps, nasal discharge, and shooting diarrhoea since last 5 days. Two nasal bots were expelled during violent sneezing by the goat. The present study reports its successful therapeutic and clinical management of PPR and oestrosis of the Jamunapari goat from Barasat, West Bengal, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]