Tube-building larvae of non-biting midges, or chironomids, are considered bioindicators of water pollution. The larvae use benthic particles to make their tubes and create a respiratory current with the movement of their bodies inside the tubes. The tube length of the chironomid larvae varies depending on several physicochemical properties of the aquatic medium. Here we study the role of physicochemical parameters on the tube length from different field sites and in the laboratory. It appears that among different physicochemical factors, dissolved oxygen (DO) has a major role in determining the tube length of the larvae. A quantitative relationship between oxygen concentration and the tube length of larvae is presented here. Our study reveals a longer tube in aquatic media with oxygen deficiency and a shorter tube in those with higher oxygen. This result may help to assess the quality of water bodies and, in particular the status of DO.

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Muscular/ physical strength are fundamental in order to satisfy basic needs for survival and productivity, especially among labourer populations in developing countries. Anthropometric variables found to be one of the key determinants of strength; however, the overall relationship between physical body dimension and strength were yet to be explored. Aim of the study was to explore the relationship between strength and anthropometric variables. Crosssectional data on strength (handgrip and back strength) and anthropometric measurements were taken from 536 healthy adult Santal labourers (Male=251, Female=285) of Birbhum district, West Bengal, India. Statistical analysis including Pearson’s correlation and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) were used. Strength measurements negatively correlated with age and positively correlated with most of anthropometric measurements. CCA between strength and anthropometry were 0.765 (p<0.001, explained 85.53% total variance) and 0.611 (p<0.001, explained 71.41% total variance) for males and females respectively. Cross-loading value of CCA indicates fat-free-mass, forearm circumference and weight for male and fat-free mass, chest circumference and wrist breadth for female were most important predictors of strength. The CCA model indicate that fat-free mass, forearm circumference, weight, chest circumference and wrist breadth were the most important anthropometric variables related to overall strength measurements of Santal labourer population. However, further researches require for generalizing this model.

Background: Muscular/ physical strength are fundamental in order to satisfy basic needs for survival and productivity, especially among labourer population in developing countries. Research suggests physical body dimension is one of the key determinants of strength; however, the relationship between overall physical body dimension and strength is yet to explored. Aims: to explore the relationship between strength measurements and anthropometric profile of Santal labourer population.Subjects and methods: Cross sectional data on strength (handgrip and back strength) and anthropometric measurements were taken from 536 healthy adult Santal labourers (Male=251, Female=285) aged between 18 to 65 years of Birbhum district, West Bengal. Statistical analysis including Pearson’s correlation and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) were used. Results: Strength negatively correlated with age and positively correlated with most of anthropometric measurements. CCA between strength and anthropometry were 0.765 (p<0.001, explained 85.53% total variance) and 0.611 (p<0.001, explained 71.41% total variance) for males and females respectively. Cross-loading value of CCA indicate fat-free-mass, forearm circumference and weight for male and fat-free mass, chest circumference and wrist breadth for female were most important predictors of strength.Conclusion: Fat-free mass, forearm circumference, weight, chest circumference, wrist breadth were the key measurements for overall strength of Santal labourer population.

Fertility and under-five mortality are considered as key health indicators of a population. Both the fertility and under-five mortality varies accross countries, regions, ethnic groups and so on, which may bedue to disparities in socio-economic and cultural factors. The study aimed to better understanding the association of fertility and under-five mortality with selected socio-economic characteristics of the Santal labourer group of Birbhum district, West Bengal. Cross-sectional data have been collected on fertility, mortality and socio-economic characteristics from 627 ever-married Santal women. Descriptive statistics, multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportion hazard analysis have been done. Total fertility rate (TFR) of the present study group was 2.9 and the mortality rate was 105.1. In the present study,educational status, age and household size of the women have significant association with fertility. Under-five mortality has significant association with educational status of mother and birth order of the children. The study indicated that education was the one of the important factors (socio-economic characters) that had most significant impact on both fertility and under-five mortality of the Santal labourer group.