An Empirical Analysis of Women Empowerment within Muslim Community in Murshidabad District of West Bengal, India

Women empowerment is a contemporary issue for developing countries like India. The rates of women empowerment are in a vulnerable condition within the largest Muslim minority community of India. In this paper, an attempt has been taken to present an empirical analysis of Muslim women empowerment within purposively selected Murshidabad district of West Bengal regarding the highest concentration of Muslim people (63.67%) all over the country. For showing the multidimensional aspects of women empowerment, a Cumulative Empowerment Index (CEI) has been constructed using 22 key indicators that act as explained variables covering four dimension of women empowerment, i.e. control over economic resources, control over household decision making, women’s mobility and political awareness. Nine explanatory (independent) variables have also been selected as determinants of women empowerment (CEI). Based on the multiple regression results the study finds statistically significant impact of accessing any type of media, family structure, family headship, household income, paid work and duration of marital life on Cumulative Empowerment Index of Muslim women at the study area. It concludes that active participation of GO’s and local NGO’s in bringing change of traditional beliefs of Muslim family and gaining awareness about women’s rights and practices can accelerate the women empowerment process within Muslim community of Murshidabad district. Keywords: Women empowerment, Cumulative Empowerment Index, Muslim community, Multiple regressio

Challenges and opportunities in 2D heterostructures for electronic and optoelectronic devices

Two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and their heterojunctions are prospective materials for future electronics, optoelectronics, and quantum technologies. Assembling different 2D layers offers unique ways to control optical, electrical, thermal, magnetic, and topological phenomena. Controlled fabrications of electronic grade 2D heterojunctions are of paramount importance. Here, we enlist novel and scalable strategies to fabricate 2D vertical and lateral heterojunctions, consisting of semiconductors, metals, and/or semimetals. Critical issues that need to be addressed are the device-to-device variations, reliability, stability, and performances of 2D heterostructures in electronic and optoelectronic applications. Also, stacking order-dependent formation of moir\ue9 excitons in 2D heterostructures are emerging with exotic physics and new opportunities. Furthermore, the realization of 2D heterojunction-based novel devices, including excitonic and valleytronic transistors, demands more extensive research efforts for real-world applications. We also outline emergent phenomena in 2D heterojunctions central to nanoelectronics, optoelectronics, spintronics, and energy applications

The role of cell membrane strain in sonoporation characterised by microfluidic-based single-cell analysis

In the present study we have investigated the sonoporation dynamics in a single cell using a novel microfluidic-based approach. Our methodology has successfully addressed the biophysical mechanisms underlying US-induced cell membrane sonoporation by performing in situ measurement of localised cell membrane deformation, and simultaneous quantification of both intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and transmembrane transfer of extracellular membrane-impermeable probes. We have highlighted novel aspects of microbubble-cluster dynamics combined with localised cell membrane strain, which could be responsible for membrane permeabilisation and transmembrane pore formation correlated with the transduction of intracellular biochemical signals (i.e. [Ca2+]i influx) as a result of microbubble-cell interaction