Volume 26, Issue 2, 2026 April - September
| Volume 26, No 2 | Pages: |
| 2026 April - September | Articles: 0 |
Current status of the earthworm genus Eutyphoeus (Clitellata: Acanthodrilidae) in Mizoram, North-East India: A review
Christopher Rodingpuia , Hmar Lalthanzara
The genus Eutyphoeus Michaelsen (1900), represents an important component of the earthworm fauna of northeast India, with Mizoram contributing a notable number of species records. The state has a diverse landscape characterized by mountainous terrain, forested habitats and high rainfall providing suitable conditions for earthworm diversity. Knowledge of Eutyphoeus in Mizoram has developed through successive taxonomic and ecological studies, resulting in the description and documentation of several species from different parts of the state. Recent studies have also incorporated molecular approaches, particularly mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequencing to support species identification, delimitation and assessment of genetic variation. This review brings together the published information on Eutyphoeus in Mizoram, with emphasis on its taxonomic history, species diversity, distribution and molecular studies. The present study records 12 species of Eutyphoeus earthworms in Mizoram, Northeast India. The available literature indicates that the know diversity of the genus has increased through continued field investigations and the application of molecular tools. However, distributional and molecular information remains uneven among species and localities. Further field surveys, particularly in less explored areas, along with expanded molecular sampling will help improve the understanding of the diversity, distribution and genetic variation of Eutyphoeus in Mizoram. This review provides a concise account of the current knowledge of the genus and identifies areas where further research can contribute to its study in the state .
Zozial of Mizoram: Identity, Chemistry, Exposure and Health Implications of an Indigenous Tobacco Product
Zozial is an indigenous hand-rolled, non-filter tobacco product of Mizoram, northeast India, prepared from locally cultivated Nicotiana tabacum L. (Solanaceae). Despite its long-standing local use, evidence concerning Zozial is distributed across ethnographic/product descriptions, tobacco-plant chemistry, tobacco-specific nitrosamine analysis and epidemiological studies, while several critical exposure steps remain uncharacterized. In this review, the available studies are examined according to the type of evidence they provide: direct studies on Zozial, older studies describing a comparable local product, studies on other combustible tobacco products, and general tobacco toxicology. Published analysis of Mizoram-grown tobacco demonstrates a broad elemental profile and selective accumulation of cadmium, whereas recent isotope-dilution LC-MS/MS analysis directly quantified nitrate, nitrite, tobacco-specific alkaloids and tobacco-specific nitrosamines in Zozial. Case-control studies in Mizoram have reported associations of Zozial, or historically described local cigarette closely matching the product, with lung and stomach cancer. However, filler composition is not equivalent to smoke yield or absorbed dose. Standardized mainstream and sidestream emissions, constituent transfer, Zozial-specific smoking topography, internal exposure and product-specific biomarkers of biological effect remain incompletely characterized in the published literature. Therefore, the comparatively low concentrations of selected tobacco-specific nitrosamines reported in one study, or the presence of potentially toxic elements in the tobacco, are not sufficient to decide whether Zozial is safer or more harmful than manufactured cigarettes. The available evidence is therefore considered along the sequence from cultivation and processing to product composition, combustion, exposure, biological response and disease, with emphasis on the measurements still needed for a reliable exposure and risk assessment.
Comparative performance characterization of 4G (LTE) and 5G NR network bands in a hilly rural region: a case study in North Thingdawl, Kolasib District, Mizoram, India
Mobile network performance in rural hilly regions is often affected by terrain and environmental conditions. The present field study examines the comparative performance of 4G LTE and 5G New Radio (NR) networks in North Thingdawl, Kolasib District, Mizoram. Field measurements were conducted using iPhone devices in Field Test Mode and the Ookla Speedtest application. Data were collected across three terrain conditions, namely hilltop, slope, and valley, under different weather conditions including clear sky, cloudy sky, and rainfall. Key performance indicators including Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR), download speed, upload speed, and latency were analyzed. Measured data indicate 5G NR provides substantially higher download throughput and lower latency compared to 4G LTE, with an average download throughput of 747.53 Mbps compared to 95.89 Mbps for 4G LTE. Although 5G provides superior throughput, its performance is more sensitive to terrain variations, particularly in valley regions where signal degradation is observed due to higher frequency propagation characteristics. In contrast, 4G LTE demonstrates more stable coverage under challenging terrain conditions. The findings highlight the impact of terrain and environmental conditions on mobile network performance in rural hilly regions and provide useful insights for future network planning and deployment.
(CC BY 4.0) 2026 Mizo Academy of Sciences. Online since 31 March 2009
ISSN 0975-6175 (print)/2229-6026 (online)
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