This book describes four different methods of paleotemperature assessment on selected Paleozoic rock units and determines spatial variations in maximum burial depths of these units and thicknesses of lost overburden. Stratigraphic and tectonic history of the northern Appalachian basin is described in details followed by a critical review of fluid inclusion, clay diagenesis, organic maturation, and stable isotope techniques of paleotemperature measurements in sedimentary rocks.

In the recent phylogenetic classification of Ericaceae, a few tribal as well as generic circumscriptions still remain ambiguous. A systematic study of Ericaceae pollen would prove rewarding and could clarify the currently confused generic limits. Qualitative palynological characters were found to be taxonomically more important and various palynological characters are important at different taxonomic levels. Palynological features were found significant in infrageneric classifications and to identify the monophyly of taxa. A number of evolutionary trends in different palynological features have been identified. Pollen survey revealed some interesting discoveries: i) pollen tetrads without septa in Ericaceae and other angiosperm families; ii) parallel evolution of pseudomonad pollen tetrad development in two subfamilies; and iii) pollenkitt ropes on the dried herbarium specimens. These findings improve our understanding of Ericaceae by providing new insights on the palynological features, their systematic significance and evolutionary trends, should be especially useful to Plant Taxonomist, Palaeobotanist, Palynologist, or anyone else who are interested on Ericaceae and/or pollen.

The main thrust of this book is to focus on the consequences of involuntary migration of East Bengal (EB) Hindus in West Bengal (WB), Kolkata (Calcutta ) city in particular. It attempts to analyse the resettlement struggles of the EB Hindu refugee-migrants, their family relations, marriage practices and problems of social interaction with the WB local Hindus over the years. In the course of their resettlement efforts, the EB Hindus urged to retain regional culture particularly in the context of matrimonial practices and family patterns, religious festivals and rituals and social norms and values. The analysis will be based on historical background of partition-migration as well as intensive fieldwork with the EB Hindu migrants and selected WB local Hindus for a long period of time.

Institutions, both formal and informal, are the rules of the game that shape the opportunities and constraints for individuals or groups active under certain socio-politico-economic settings. Changes of economic institutions are frequent as globalization advances, particularly the reform initiatives under SAP by World Bank and IMF. Bangladesh agriculture is not an exception. Reforms were sweeping and new market-based economic rules of the game replaced the old ones. The study explores the farmer's opportunities and challenges shaped by the new institutions while comparing the post-reform institutions with the pre-reform ones plus with the stylized market based institutions. The study reveals that the post-reform input institutions have both positive and negative impacts on the livelihoods of the farmers. Rural power structure and the patterns of farmer's involvements into the input markets often obstructing the small farmers in appropriating the benefits from reform measures, and thus these reforms are disproportionately benefiting a certain class in rural Bangladesh. The book would be useful for the students and researchers interested in agriculture, institutions and livelihoods.