Scientific Thinking in Historical Perspective

We talk of scientific temper today in the context of Nehru's overt commitment to the idea. It can be safely said that scientific temper is also one of the important Nehruvian policy legacies which we inherited and have always tried to keep alive, of course, not as successfully as we would have liked it to be. Most of the times it gets embroiled in confrontation with faith and all sorts of arguments, for and against, are exchanged between the votaries of each of them. We tend to forget, in the heat of arguments, that people of faith have played crucial role in the progress of science from times immemorial, including modern science as well. It is not a question of either/or, just a reconciliation of the two. Religions have also been emancipatory in intent, as was the case with Islam in the early centuries and before it got institutionalized and mired in superstitions. I will try to engage with some of the related issues in historical context, a period when the term scientific temper was not around, yet there were a large number of autodidacts and intellectuals who appealed for a rational approach in our daily lives and also disseminated modern science in local language. They used science to fight against dogmas and superstitions proclaimed in the name of religions

Colonialism, Modernization and the Asian Identity

"Professor Irfan Habib was invited by the Japan Scientists Association to give the memorial lecture for the fortieth year of its foundation as a guest speaker. This paper “Colonialism, Modernization and the Asian Identity”was delivered at the International Symposium on Exchange and Cooperation of Science and Technology in Asia held on December 11, 2005 in Tokyo. On the following day he visited Kyoto University and delivered the same paper at the South Asian Study Society. Professor Habib is well-known all over the world as a historian of the medieval Indian history, especially Mughal Indian history. He has, however, been prolifically writing not only on the medieval history but also on the whole range of Indian history from the ancient to modern periods. A British historian says that Professor Habib is a national treasure of India. He is widely acknowledged as the most distinguished historian of contemporary South Asia. I, as one of the coordinating members of his invitation, am very happy to introduce here his impressive and comprehensive paper read in Japan. "Asian civilizationscolonialismmodern Asiaimperialismsolidarit

Timur in the Political Tradition and Historiography of Mughal India

I. Timur’s image in India before the establishment of the Indian Timurid (“Mughal”) dynasty in 1526, was naturally coloured by the experience of his invasion of 1397-99. This can be seen from the account of this event in Yahya Sihrindi’s Târikh-e Mobârakshâhi, which was completed in 1434, though the portion containing the account of Timur’s invasion was probably written much earlier. It was, therefore, practically contemporaneous with, and is certainly completely independent of, Sharaf al-Din..

Timur in the Political Tradition and Historiography of Mughal India

I. Timur’s image in India before the establishment of the Indian Timurid (“Mughal”) dynasty in 1526, was naturally coloured by the experience of his invasion of 1397-99. This can be seen from the account of this event in Yahya Sihrindi’s Târikh-e Mobârakshâhi, which was completed in 1434, though the portion containing the account of Timur’s invasion was probably written much earlier. It was, therefore, practically contemporaneous with, and is certainly completely independent of, Sharaf al-Din..

Comparison of antimicrobial efficacy of calcipex and metapex in endodontic treatment of chronic apical periodontitis: A randomised controlled trial study protocol

Introduction: Various intracanal medicaments have been used in cases of chronic apical periodontitis for appropriate disinfection of the root canal system to eliminate microbes especially from the inaccessible areas. Calcium hydroxide is the most common intracanal medicament available in various forms, but its effectiveness with or without iodoform using microbial culture is unknown. Therefore, our aim is to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of Calcipex and Metapex in endodontic treatment of teeth presenting with chronic apical periodontitis by assessing the bacterial load reduction.Method and analysis: 60 single rooted teeth of patients with diagnosis of chronic apical periodontitis will be selected and the canals debrided chemomechanically. The patients will be randomised into two groups: Calcipex and Metapex. The first sample (S1) for bacterial culture will be taken before placement of intracanal medicament and the second sample (S2) will be taken after 7 days, before final obturation from the canal and sent to lab for culture. Colony-forming unit will be evaluated. Paired t-test will be used to assess difference between antimicrobial efficacies within the group of medicaments. Independent sample t-test will be used to assess antimicrobial efficacies between groups. Level of significance will be kept at 0.05.Ethics and dissemination: Approval from Aga Khan University Hospital Ethical review committee is taken. Findings will be reported according to the Standard Protocol Items for Randomised Trials guidelines. Research findings will be disseminated through annual reports, peer-reviewed journals and conferences.Trial registration number: NCT04336709

Nucleic Acid-based Cancer Therapy for Advanced-stage Solid Tumors: A Brief Overview

Introduction: The management of advanced-stage solid tumors remains a formidable challenge in oncology, often necessitating a combination of treatment modalities with limited efficacy. Nucleic acid-based drugs have emerged as promising therapeutic options, offering novel approaches to combat treatment-resistant tumors. This editorial review briefly analyzes viral and non-viral nucleic acid-based treatments for solid tumors, including their development, clinical activity, mechanisms of action, and prospects. Viral vectors, such as adenoviruses and lentiviruses, enable the delivery of therapeutic genes directly into tumor cells or the modulation of the tumor microenvironment, resulting in regulatory approvals for several gene therapies. Non-viral delivery systems, including lipid nanoparticles and polymer-based carriers, offer alternative strategies for transporting therapeutic nucleic acids into tumor cells, with precise drug release and targeting control. Materials and Methods: The literature review is based on searches of the PubMed database, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar using specific keywords. The article is based on manuscripts published between 2021 and 2024. Results: The mechanistic actions of nucleic acid-based drugs are diverse, encompassing direct tumor cell killing, modulation of the immune response, and inhibition of oncogenic pathways. Importantly, these therapeutic approaches demonstrate a favorable safety profile compared to traditional chemotherapy agents, minimizing off-target effects and reducing adverse events. The tumor microenvironment significantly influences the effectiveness of nucleic acid-based therapies, requiring strategies to improve drug delivery and overcome resistance mechanisms. Ongoing clinical trials, preclinical studies, and advancements in manufacturing and stability technologies are expected to drive the next generation of nucleic acid agents, ensuring widespread accessibility and clinical utility. Conclusion: Nucleic acid-based drugs represent a transformative approach to cancer therapy, potentially revolutionizing treatment outcomes and ushering in an era of precision medicine in oncology

Nail as a foreign body in a neonate, an unusual presentation at an unusual age

Children are prone to ingest substances due to their exploratory nature and tendency to put everything in the mouth. Commonly ingested foreign bodies are coins, batteries and buttons. Foreign body ingestion in neonates is a very rare presentation and always needs important consideration as it can be a part of child abuse and can lead to serious life threatening consequence