Northeast India Research Articles

Seismic risk assessment of reinforced concrete buildings in India using cumulative damage index-based vulnerability functions

This study proposes a framework to evaluate probabilistic seismic risk of buildings in regions exposed to both crustal and subduction earthquakes. Ground motions from subduction earthquakes are typically longer in duration, causing higher damage to structure due to increased inelastic demand as compared to ground motions from crustal earthquakes having the same peak intensity. The increased vulnerability to structural damage from subduction earthquake ground motions needs to be accounted for in seismic loss assessment studies. This study investigates the same for India. The north and northeast of India are exposed to both crustal and continental subduction seismic sources, and Peninsular India is exposed to crustal seismic sources. Nonlinear analytical models are developed for a set of modern Indian code-compliant reinforced concrete special moment frame buildings located at 20 different sites in India. Incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) of building models using spectrally equivalent ground motions from crustal and subduction earthquakes is used for developing tectonic-region-type-specific (crustal and subduction) building vulnerability functions. The cumulative damage index is used as the engineering demand parameter to capture the increased inelastic demand from subduction earthquakes on buildings. For seismic risk assessment, the total seismic hazard at a site is separated into its contribution from crustal and subduction sources and combined with respective building vulnerability functions. The seismic risk of buildings is quantified by average annual loss ratio (AALR) through event-based probabilistic seismic risk analysis. For buildings located in high seismic zones of India, this study finds that AALR can be up to 40% higher on average as compared to studies not accounting for increased building vulnerability from subduction earthquakes.

Application of frequency ratio model for flood hazard zonation in the Dikhow River basin, Northeast India

Application of frequency ratio model for flood hazard zonation in the Dikhow River basin, Northeast India

Management of tomato late blight disease in high rainfall area of Northeast India

Management of tomato late blight disease in high rainfall area of Northeast India

Spatial Characteristics and Evolution Mechanisms of the Indian Ocean Tripole Mode and Its Impact on Rainfall Patterns Over India

ABSTRACTThe IOT mode is an interannual climate pattern in the Tropical Indian Ocean (TIO), characterised by negative SSTA in both the eastern and western TIO, and positive SSTA in the south‐central TIO. Distinct from the IOD, which accounts for 10% of SSTA variability in the TIO, the IOT explains 8% of this variance. This study reveals that strong south‐westerly wind anomalies along the Somali coast and Arabian Sea associated with a positive IOT drive intense surface cooling, which spreads across the western basin through lateral advection. A typical positive IOT enhances monsoon winds over northern India, leading to increased rainfall across the Indo‐Gangetic Plains, while deflecting monsoon winds further south over the southern peninsula, resulting in reduced rainfall there. Additionally, a cyclonic wind anomaly in the Bay of Bengal dampens winds over regions of northeastern India, suppressing summer monsoon rainfall. The findings underscore the significant role of the IOT in modulating monsoon rainfall and its spatial distribution. This study highlights the IOT's potential to enhance understanding of monsoon variability, and its incorporation into predictive models could improve climate resilience in monsoon‐dependent regions.

Preserving culture in the digital age: media ethics and privacy for youth in Northeast India

The digital age has brought transformative changes to communication, learning, and cultural expression, presenting both opportunities and challenges for the youth of Northeast India. This paper explores the critical intersection of tradition and technology, focusing on preserving cultural integrity amidst rapid digital advancements. Northeast India, known for its diverse ethnicities, languages, and traditions, is navigating the complexities of media ethics and digital privacy to protect its cultural heritage. Social media and online platforms have emerged as powerful tools for cultural exchange, but they also pose risks of misrepresentation, cultural erosion, and privacy breaches. This study examines the role of media ethics in promoting accurate cultural narratives and fostering intercultural understanding. It also highlights the importance of digital privacy in safeguarding cultural practices and traditions. By analyzing challenges and proposing strategies, the paper emphasizes empowering youth as custodians of their heritage in the digital realm. Keywords: Cultural Preservation, Digital Privacy, Media Ethics, Youth, Northeast India, Social Media.

Patho-Ecological Distribution and Genetic Diversity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense in Malbhog Banana Belts of Assam, India

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), is recognized as one of the most devastating diseases affecting banana cultivation worldwide. In India, Foc extensively affects Malbhog banana (AAB genomic group) production. In this study, we isolated 25 Foc isolates from wilt-affected Malbhog plantations inIndia. A pathogenicity test confirmed the identity of these isolates as Foc, the primary causative agent of wilt in bananas. The morpho-cultural characterization of Foc isolates showed large variations in colony morphological features, intensity, and pattern of pigmentation, chlamydospores, and conidial size. The molecular identification of these isolates using Race1- and Race4-specific primers established their identity as Race1 of Foc, with the absence of Tropical Race 4 of Foc. For a more comprehensive understanding of the genetic diversity of Foc isolates, we employed ISSR molecular typing, which revealed five major clusters. About 96% of the diversity within the Foc population indicated the presence of polymorphic loci in individuals of a given population evident from the results of Nei’s genetic diversity, Shannon’s information index, and the polymorphism information content values, apart from the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). The current findings provide significant insights toward the detection of Foc variants and, consequently, the deployment of effective management practices to keep the possible epidemic development of disease under control along the Malbhog banana growing belts of northeast India.

Three Decades of Change in North-East India: Growth, Shifting Sectors, and Inequality Trends

The study offers a comprehensive analysis of the economic situation in North-East India, emphasising growth, sectoral dynamics, and inequality trends over nearly three decades in the post-economic reform period. The study had three basic objectives: to examine growth patterns in Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and per capita income, assess sectoral contributions, and investigate inequality trends among states. Findings revealed varied growth patterns, with Sikkim and Mizoram leading, while Assam showed improvement. A shift to service-oriented economies was noted, though sectoral contributions varied. Initial GSDP inequality convergence has faced challenges since 2010-11, highlighting rising per capita income inequality and the need for targeted policy interventions.

Psychosocial Complexity and Effective Coping Mechanisms of Work-Family Balance in Mizoram, India

Achieving a harmonious work-family balance (WFB) has become increasingly crucial in today's fast-paced world since the women's workforce has increased in the 1900s. This merging change also includes culturally rich regions like Mizoram, a state in north-eastern India. This study explores the psychosocial complexities surrounding the work-family balance (WFB) of the organized sector in Mizoram. The interplay between traditional family values, societal expectations, and modern economic pressures creates unique challenges for individuals striving to juggle professional and familial responsibilities. As more women enter the workforce and traditional gender roles shift, the resulting conflicts can lead to significant stress and mental health concerns for the women, their spouses, and other family members. It also affects the male breadwinners in case of dual responsibilities and sometimes triples when societal activities are on his shoulders. The data of the study includes three urban districts purposively chosen in terms of their large population viz., Aizawl district (Northern Mizoram state), Lunglei district (Southern Mizoram state), and Champhai (Eastern Mizoram State) by administering quantitative methods and a descriptive research design. The unit of the study includes individual married employees living with at least one child between the age group of 26-45 years in hospital settings, educational institutions, and banking sectors. The sample includes 318 employees consisting of 61.32% female respondents and 38.68% male respondents. The work-family balance and the psychosocial dimension relationship is quite satisfying as the findings reveal a satisfactory mean score. The employees administered different forms of coping mechanisms to overcome their work-family imbalance.

Evaluation of drying kinetics models and functional properties of Etlingera linguiformis (Roxb.) R.M.Sm.: An aromatic ginger from North East India

Evaluation of drying kinetics models and functional properties of Etlingera linguiformis (Roxb.) R.M.Sm.: An aromatic ginger from North East India

A Note on Calcified Pollutant Artefacts of Mawmluh Cave, Shillong Plateau, Meghalaya, North East India

ABSTRACT The renowned Mawmluh or, Mawkhyrdop Cave near Sohra, is a strato-type area for the youngest geological stage, the ‘Meghalayan Age’. Passages, chambers, and cave water pools form network of channels that are lined and ornamented by speleothems typical of a limestone cave. Materialistic plastic items, cloth, tin and aluminum kitchen and home appliance pollutants brought by the river Wah Ummulah from the nearby villages including Sohra; litter the cave. These artefacts are brought by monsoonal seasonal floods. Continuous chemical activities have calcified some of these items along certain favorable spots of the cave. A stuck-up cloth item along with its lacing pattern had pristinely been preserved during calcification. These calcified items now form trivial but unique features, recently incorporated, and integrated as part of the cave landscape.

Role of atmospheric boundary layer dynamics in driving surface black carbon concentrations over a high-altitude station in north-east India

Role of atmospheric boundary layer dynamics in driving surface black carbon concentrations over a high-altitude station in north-east India

Traditional herbal practices associated with malaria and symptoms: Mishmi tribe cohort study from Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India

Traditional herbal practices associated with malaria and symptoms: Mishmi tribe cohort study from Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India

Cancer Trends in West Bengal Over 25 Years: A Comprehensive Single-Centre Study

Abstract The last 25 years have seen considerable changes in cancer epidemiology in India. Numerous studies have shown increases in certain cancers, such as lifestyle and tobacco-related cancers, with decreases in other cancers, such as cervical cancer. Despite the development of the National Cancer Registry Program in 1964, cancer is not a notifiable disease in India, and there remains no comprehensive cancer registry with data relying on regional and hospital-based registries. This retrospective study aimed to elucidate the trends in cancer epidemiology in the West Bengal region over a period of 25 years (1996–2020). Our analysis includes retrospective data from the hospital electronic records of a tertiary cancer institution in Kolkata which serves patients from Kolkata as well as Eastern, North-Eastern India and Bangladesh. We collected data from 189,485 patients (of which 135,578 had malignant disease) who were diagnosed during this time. Data was visualised using Microsoft Excel and analysed using linear trend analyses and the Mann–Kendall test. We saw significant increases in breast cancers amongst females and oral cavity cancers amongst males, consistent with other studies across various regions of India. In contrast, we identified significant decreases in the frequency of cervical cancers amongst females and cancers of the ear, nose and throat regions amongst males. We report that the cancer epidemiology in West Bengal is generally following that of the rest of India. Our study has revealed important trends in cancer frequency in West Bengal and has illustrated important areas for targeting preventative and/or screening interventions.

Petrochronology and geochemistry of migmatites from the Assam-Meghalaya gneissic complex (NE India): Implications for the crustal anatexis and reworking during Gondwana assembly

Petrochronology and geochemistry of migmatites from the Assam-Meghalaya gneissic complex (NE India): Implications for the crustal anatexis and reworking during Gondwana assembly

Crustal resistivity architecture beneath the Sikkim Himalaya and Foreland Basin, NE India: Constraint from magnetotellurics data

Crustal resistivity architecture beneath the Sikkim Himalaya and Foreland Basin, NE India: Constraint from magnetotellurics data

Classification of traditional Joha rice using deep neural network

Rice is the major food for the most of the people in the world. It is grown comfortably in a rain fed area. Rice is called a kharif crop in India. According to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) classification rice is classified as Ahu, Sali, Boro and Hill rice. In north eastern India the Joha rice is mainly cultivated in the state of Assam. There are many varieties of Joha rice like Kunkuni, Rampal, Manipuri, Tulshi, and Keteki. But it is quite complex for the farmers as well as the common people to differentiate these type of Joha rice due to their morphological structure. Initially this type of classification done by naked eyes or used some laboratory experiments. But due to the tiredness and some external factors it is not fruitful. Some of the image classification technologies are used in classification as well identification of rice in different research work using MATLAB. At present deep learning plays a tremendous role in image analysis in agricultural domain. Here in this paper we take two verities of Joha rice which are closer in morphological structure and cannot be separated by our naked eyes. Using deep neural network, binary classification is done in these Joha rice.

Whole exome sequencing based coding variation in nasopharyngeal cancer from tribal population of North-East India

Whole exome sequencing based coding variation in nasopharyngeal cancer from tribal population of North-East India

Reflection of Non-cooperation movement in the Princely State Tripura

Under Mahatma Gandhi's guidance, the Indian liberation movement entered a new phase in the 1920s The 1920s marked a significant shift in India's freedom struggle, moving from individual leaders and small groups to a broader, more inclusive, and non-violent mass movement. Gandhi's appeal for widespread involvement in the nonviolent, non-cooperation campaign reached even the most isolated regions of the nation. And unlike other princely domains of India, the small princely state of North East India, the princely Tripura also witnessed some repercussions to that. Since ancient times North East India portrays a different socio-cultural and economic entity than the rest of the Indian subcontinent. Despite the prolonged difference, north east India was always connected with the mainstream of Indian socio-political settings. As a result, the princely Tripura was not completely isolated from the nationalist politics and the freedom struggle of India. Mahatma Gandhi organized the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements, which sought to overthrow British colonial control in India. Early in 1921, these demonstrations gathered traction in the Princely state of Tripura, which was governed by a native king under British influence. Additionally, during this period, the spirit of nationalism was sparked in the princely domain of Tripura, where the people of Chakla Roshnabad actively joined in the nationalist movement led by Gandhi and the Indian National Congress and rebelled against the colonial administration.

GC-MS profiling of Magnolia griffithii hook. f. & Thomson: an endangered plant species of Assam, North-east India

Magnolia griffithii Hook. f. and Thompson, belongs to the family Magnoliaceae, is an endemic and threatened plant species of Assam, North-east India. However, its population has declined rapidly from its natural habitat due to overexploitation of the plant species. Additionally, very little information is still available on the taxonomy, distribution pattern or microbial ecology of the said species. There is also very less information about the diversity, bioprospection and commercial values of the species. In the current investigation, the phytochemical constituents of the methanolic extract of M. griffithii leaves were analysed qualitatively using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Qualitative estimation of the biochemical metabolites was done and the following compounds were found viz. alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, lignin etc. Quantitative analysis revealed the existence of phenol content as 1411.5 mgg-1, flavonoid content as 50.65 mgg-1 and flavonol content as 24 mgg-1. Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of 198 diverse compounds with varied biological activities, among which some significant compounds are reported as Safrole, Aciphyllene, Alloaromadendrene, Aminohippuric Acid, Androstan-17-One, 3,11-Bis [(Trimethylsilyl)Oxy]-,O-(Phenylmethyl) Oxim, Arsenous Acid, Tris(Trimethylsilyl) Ester Azulene, 1,2,3,3a,4,5,6,7-Octahydro-1,4-Dimethyl-7-(1-Methylethenyl), Caryophyllene, Curlone, Cyclobarbital, Cycloheptane, Bromo, Guaia-1(10),11-Dien, Isocaryophillene, Leucodrin, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Patchoulene , Andrographolide, Aromandendrene, Beta.-Bisabolene, Methane sulfonothioic Acid, S,S'-1,4-Butanediyl Ester, Neophytadiene, Pyrrolidin-2,5-Dione, Retinal, Santolina Triene, Silicic Acid, and Stigmasterol. Thus, the identification and characterisation of the phytochemicals in the extract favour the development of novel therapeutic agents.

Non-stationarity of extreme rainfalls and its impact assessment in the northeastern part of India

ABSTRACT This study investigates the variability in extreme rainfall in northeast India using stationary and non-stationary frequency analyses. The study identified non-stationarity in the annual maximum daily rainfall time series in northeast India, and it was shown that the non-stationary models exhibited more accurate results compared to modelling the series on the assumption of stationarity. Genetic algorithm (GA) is employed as the optimization algorithm for parameter estimation in the method of maximum likelihood estimation of parameters, hereby referred to as maximum likelihood estimate (MLE)-GA. The results demonstrate better non-stationary parameter fitting using the MLE-GA approach for generalized extreme value (GEV) and Pearson Type III (PE3) distributions. The results obtained found that all the 12 rainfall stations considered in the region show significant amount of non-stationarity with values ranging from a negative impact of −31.97% to a positive impact of 38.6% for a return period of 100 years. Overall, the research findings indicate non-stationarity in the frequency analysis of extreme rainfall series to have a significant impact on the northeastern region as a whole, and non-stationary modelling is more beneficial and reliable for any water management studies under climate change in the region.