Determinants of Crop Diversification in Bangladesh: An Econometric Analysis

This study aims to investigate the factors that influence household behaviour in cultivating the diversified crops on their cultivable land in Bangladesh. Cragg’s alternative tobit model has been applied to a unique rural household level dataset to find the catalysts of crop diversification. The results obtained portrayed a mixed impression of crop diversification in the country. The estimated results have revealed that the male head of household, the accessibility of information, a greater number of farming parcels and the availability of hired labour seem to govern the decision of a farming household to participate in non-rice crop production, while factors such as the total amount of land, agricultural extension service and irrigation facilities influence rice cultivation. Moreover, the findings obtained from the same Cragg’s alternative tobit model estimation for the Aman, Boro and Aus seasons have also revealed a similar depiction of crop diversification in Bangladesh.

Determinants of Gender Disparity in Nutritional Intake among Children in Pakistan: Evidence from PDHS

The purpose of this study is to analyze early age malnutrition on a gender basis in Pakistan. Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2012–13 data related to households’ characteristics that affect the nutrition of children less than 5 years of age are used for the estimation of results. Gender disparity (measured by girl malnourished in household/boy malnourished in a household) is constructed for the measurement of gender disparity in early age child nutrition. After synthesizing the PDHS data set, 2119 observations are used for regression results of gender disparity. Regression results are analyzed at the level of 5% confidence interval otherwise insignificant. egression results for gender disparity show that households in good socioeconomic status, a greater number of household members, a mother’s higher level of education, mother employment, and the male head of the household, causes a decrease in gender disparity in nutrition intake of children.

Laemophloeus souzalimai, a new species of lined flat bark beetle (Coleoptera, Cucujoidea, Laemophloeidae) from Southeast Brazil

Distinctive, remarkable specimens from Bauru, São Paulo state, Brazil are recognized as a new species of the genus Laemophloeus Dejean (sensu stricto), which is described and illustrated in this paper. Laemophloeus souzalimai sp. nov. is most similar to L. germaini Grouvelle and can be readily distinguished from all New World species of the genus by the dorsal color testaceous, without elytral maculae, antennal club of 6 antennomeres, genal processes anteriorly projected, male head with somewhat pedunculated eyes, and frons with a broad, V-shaped impressed line. Additionally, the preexisting key to Laemophloeus species with antennal club of 6 or more antennomeres is modified to include the new species, and new records for five Brazilian species of the genus are provided.

PHANAGOR'S ‘PORTRAIT'

Находка в 2017 г. в Патрее фрагмента мерной ойнохои с клеймом, на котором весьма в реалистической манере показана в профиль мужская голова в пилосе с двумя сохранившимися буквами (|<I>|AN|A|) над ним, позволила не только идентифицировать это изображение с эмблемой аверса фанагорийских монет времени автономии города (Захаров, 2018; Ковальчук, 2019), но и установить, что на голове персонажа надета не войлочная шапка, как принято было считать, а металлический шлем типа «пилос». Это наблюдение дало возможность вернуться к старой дискуссии о том, кто именно представлен на лицевой стороне монет Фанагории: основатель полиса, Фанагор, или хтонические божества - кабиры. Автор статьи присоединяется к выводам Д. Браунда (Braund, 2011), который убедительно показал, что невозможно говорить ни об атрибутивном характере пилоса на монетах, ни о распространенности в Северном Причерноморье культа кабиров вообще. Оценка исторического контекста чеканки монет Фанагорией в сочетании с учетом нового эпиграфического свидетельства, подтверждающего героический культ ойкиста Фанагора (Завойкина, 2020), приводит к убедительному заключению, что на монетах и клейме из Патрея представлен именно тот, кто дал свое имя городу, в героической ипостаси. A fragment of volumetric oenochoe with a stamp showing a rather realistically depicted male head in profile wearing a pilos with two surviving letters over the head (|O|AN|A|) was found in Patrei in 2017. The find made it possible not only to identify this image as an obverse emblem of Phanagoria coins dating to the period when the city was autonomous (Zakharov, 2018; Kovalchuk, 2019) but also establish that the man on the coin wears a metallic helmet of a pilos type rather than a felt hat as was previously thought. This observation provided an opportunity to get back to an earlier discussion as to who is represented on the obverse of the Phanagoria coins: Phanagor, the founder of the polis or the Kabiroi, chthonic gods. The author of the paper agrees with the conclusions made by D. Braund (Braund, 2011) who clearly demonstrated that we cannot say that pilos can be used as an attributive feature or that the Kabiroi cult was spread across the North Pontic region. It can be inferred from the assessment of the historical context of coin mintage by Phanagoria and the new epigraphic evidence confirming a heroic cult of the oikistes Phanagor that the coins and the stamp from Patrei feature the person who gave his name to the city and who is represented as a hero.

On Prevention of Diarrheal Disease: Assessing the Factors of Effective Handwashing Facilities in Bangladesh

People in Bangladesh usually do not utilize handwashing facilities properly, which makes it challenging to implement hygiene practices of handwashing to reduce diarrhea and other health risks. Against this backdrop, this research attempts to assess the factors associated with Effective Handwashing Facilities (EHFs) in Bangladesh utilizing the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019. This study utilizes descriptive statistics techniques and also bivariate and multivariable logistic regression methods by representing odd ratios to identify the relationship between associated factors and EHF in Bangladesh. The descriptive statistics show that about 74.22% of the households in Bangladesh have EHFs. Gender, education, ethnicity, male-head households, household wealth status, source of water, sanitation status, sharing toilet facility are identified as the potential determinants of EHF. As a result, we recommend that all levels of society in Bangladesh have continuous access to handwashing equipment and facilities to reduce hygiene-related illnesses especially diarrheal disease.

In situ conservation of traditional vegetable diversity in Wa homegardens in southwestern Yunnan, China

Background Homegardens are in situ conservation sources of germplasm diversity for overcoming homogenous germplasm problems in industrial agricultural systems. The Wa people constitute a long-dwelling ethnic group mainly in southwestern Yunnan with a unique culture and rich knowledge of traditional vegetables. We hypothesized that traditional vegetable varieties are well conserved in Wa homegardens because Wa culture promotes the preservation of traditional vegetables. We surveyed vegetable varieties and the practices that are involved in the conservation of traditional vegetables in Wa homegardens, which could form the basis for in situ conservation. Methods The methods were used including questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Sixty homegardens were surveyed through purposive sampling in 6 Wa villages. We documented ethnobotanical information about vegetables in homegardens. Plant species were identified according to the Flora of China. And thematic analyses were conducted for in-depth interviews to identify the conservation factors for traditional vegetables. Results Fifty-two vegetable species belonging to 16 families and 41 genera were recorded from 60 Wa homegardens. Fifty-five traditional vegetable varieties and thirty-six hybrids were recorded. Among all the villages, 23 ± 6 (average ± SD) traditional vegetable varieties per homegarden and 9 ± 3 (average ± SD) introduced varieties per homegarden were recorded. Local seeds were stored in 78% of households, with an additional 9% of households’ seed supplies coming from neighbors and relatives; the other 13% of households purchased local seeds from markets. In 83% of families, the female head was mainly responsible for the decision-making concerning traditional vegetables in homegardens; in 10% of families, the male head was responsible for decision-making, and a small percentage (2%) was determined by elderly people. Five percent of families made decisions jointly between male and female household heads. Conclusions This study demonstrated that rich traditional germplasm diversity is harbored in Wa homegardens because of the unique culture and traditional knowledge of Wa communities, which are practiced daily with homegrown food plants. Local vegetable seed conservation and sharing systems help maintain germplasm diversity in the Wa community homegardens. Wa homegardens constitute a practical solution for protecting traditional germplasm diversity and maintaining traditional lifestyles.

The Bonnet and the Beret in Medieval and German Renaissance Art

This paper presents an art-historic contribution, examining the bonnet and the beret as characteristic forms of female and male headdresses and their manifold variations and oriental origins. Both types of head coverings are shaped by sociocultural attitudes and evolved in form. Embedded within the wider context of clothing they also, in turn, influence social norms and attitude. Examining their history and genesis also reveals and raises gender-specific perspectives and questions. The depiction and representation of the bonnet and beret during two defining periods in the visual arts, incorporating role-play and creativity, present a considerable knowledge transfer through media. First instances of gender-specific dress codes can be traced back to the Bible and therefore Paul’s rules for head covering for women in 1 Cor 11,2-16 is intensively debated. The following chapter will trace and illustrate the history of female and male head coverings on the example of various works of art. The strict rules outlined in 1 Corinthian 11 prescribing appropriate head coverings in ceremonial settings, which had a significant and lasting impact, have in time been transformed through the creative freedom afforded by the mundanity of fashion.

Redefinition of the sexstrigatus group of Lasioglossum (Hemihalictus) Cockerell, 1897 (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Halictidae), with a revision of Japanese species

I propose a redefinition of the sexstrigatus group of Lasioglossum (Hemihalictus) Cockerell, 1897, including a phylogenetic analysis. This group is characterised by a combination of the following 12 characteristics: male antenna short, not attaining to metasoma, male labrum with distal process and well-developed basal elevation, male head with genal process as variation, female mesepisternum reticulate-punctate on lower area, mesepisternum without tubercle in both sexes, female metasomal terga with distinct fimbriae on posterior margin, male S8 with well-developed median process, gonobase ventral arm of male genitalia connected with each other at upper ends, gonocoxite of male genitalia smooth, gonostylus of male genitalia small and simple, bud-like, and the ventral retrorse lobe of male genitalia not attaining to gonobase. The Japanese species of the sexstrigatus group are revised. Thirteen species in total are recognised, including three new species: Lasioglossum (Hemihalictus) ikudomei sp. nov., L. (H.) spectrum sp. nov., and L. (H.) subsimplicior sp. nov. Lasioglossum (Hemihalictus) perplexans (Cockerell, 1925) is synonymised under L. (H.) kiautschouense (Strand, 1910). A key to the Japanese species is provided. Bionomical data, such as flight and flower records or habitat, are reported for some species. The distributions of all species are mapped. DNA sequences including a part of the barcode region are given for L. (H.) kiautschouense, L. (H.) ohei Hirashima &#38; Sakagami, 1966, L. (H.) speculinum (Cockerell, 1925), L. (H. ) spectrum sp. nov., L. (H. ) subsimplicior sp. nov., and L. (H. ) taeniolellum (Vachal, 1903).

Mughal Men’s Head Ornaments with an Emphasize on Turban Ornaments and their Connection with European Aigrette

Jewelry is main aspect of dressing and Mughal Jewelry is a fascinating theme to explore. Its styles can be traced through the paintings that clearly give accurate information of the style and variety of ornaments that were used during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Jewelry is considered the feminine adornment part but miniature shows the beautiful ornamentation of Mughal emperors also with variation in sizes and design. This article discusses the Mughal male head ornaments and study is focused on the turban ornamentations. As man’s turban is his sacrosanct property and variety of turban ornaments were used by Mughals. This paper is an attempt to understand and examine that how the Mughal turban ornament develops from simple feather to piece of complex jewelry designs and how other culture helps in its development. Why Mughal emperors worn such gemstones in headdress and which techniques were used for its decoration? Is there any specific reason of using such gemstones or just for ornamentations purposes? In the end it concludes that sarpech shapes helps in the development of European aigrette and became a part of European jewelry that later helped in the modification of turban ornaments and Euro-Indian sarpech-aigrette appeared with more delicate style.

Contributions to the Taxonomy of Arlesminthurus Bretfeld and Calvatomina Yosii (Collembola, Symphypleona, Appendiciphora), with the Description of New Species from Northeastern Brazil

<italic>Arlesminthurus</italic> Bretfeld is a small genus of Neotropical Bourletiellidae, with only four described species so far. <italic>Calvatomina</italic> Yosii is a widespread taxon of Dicyrtomidae, with most species known from the tropics. Here, we describe two new species from northeastern Brazil: <italic>Arlesminthurus caatinguensis</italic> sp. nov. and <italic>Calvatomina gladiata</italic> sp. nov. We also provide a detailed chaetotaxic study for <italic>Arlesminthurus</italic> for the first time, with updated diagnoses and identification keys for the Neotropical species of both genera and notes on their morphology. <italic>Arlesminthurus caatinguensis</italic> sp. nov. resembles <italic>A. aueti</italic> Arl&#xE9; in body color pattern, male head and dental chaetotaxy. The discovery of one bothriotrichum-like sens on the large abdomen of the new species needs to be investigated as a possible generic diagnostic feature, but we suggest that this structure is homologous to the S-sens seen in at least four Bourletiellinae genera, and they are likely related to each other. <italic>Calvatomina gladiata</italic> sp. nov. belongs to the <italic>rufescens</italic>-group and resembles <italic>C. rufescens</italic> Reuter and <italic>C. guyanensis</italic> Nayrolles and Betsch in some aspects of the head, dental and abdominal chaetotaxy. These descriptions represent the first record of <italic>Arlesminthurus</italic> from Caatinga and the first nominal species of <italic>Calvatomina</italic> from Brazil.