INFRINGEMENTS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND UN CHARTER IN INDIAN OCCUPIED KASHMIR

The Indian illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir is a continuous denial of the right of self-determination, identity, independence, and freedom of expression to more than 12.55 million people. The Indian Armed Forces deployed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are extensively violating human rights and provisions of the UN Charter. Since the abolition of Articles 370 and 35 (A) from the Indian constitution in 2019, an additional 1.75 lakh Indian military personnel have also been deployed in Kashmir. This heavy deployment along with the imposition of yearlong lockdown and unwarranted subjugation of innocent Kashmiris is unprecedented. Against this backdrop, this paper intends to identify the humanitarian aspect of the Kashmir conflict that has entirely been disrespected by the Indian government. Communication, movement, and connectivity of the people of Kashmir has been cut off from the entire world. This paper also highlights that India is blatantly violating International Humanitarian Law and relevant UN Conventions in IIOJK. Despite this, the response of the international community towards this humanitarian crisis is bleak and inadequate.   Bibliography Entry Azam, Maryam. 2020. "Infringements of International Law and UN Charter in Indian Occupied Kashmir." Margalla Papers 24 (2): 71-82

Reforming a Broken System: A New Performance Evaluation System for Pakistan Civil Servants

Extant literature informs that the modern state requires a civil service whose performance is accurately measured, evaluated and subsequently rewarded (or punished). In this paper we use Pakistan as a case study of a country in which the performance evaluation system is obsolete and resistant to change. After analysing literature on the importance of performance management systems in bureaucracies, we evaluate the present structure of the Pakistani performance evaluation system of civil servants and identify its major weaknesses. We then present the results of a unique survey of senior civil servants which informs on how they viewed potential reforms of the current system. Based on this, we present a revised instrument to more accurately measure the performance of Pakistani civil servants, which both adapts the existing instrument while being cognizant of the international best practices. Finally we look at some of the significant political economy factors that could hinder the introduction of a new performance management system. Keywords: Performance Evaluation, Political Manipulation, SMART, Political Alignment Performance Management, Civil Servic

Identifying and Ranking the Factors Affecting the Social Perception of Shahid Beheshti Hospital Staff in Kashan, Iran

This study was aimed to identify and rank the factors affecting the social perception of Kashan Shahid Beheshti hospital staff. The research methodology in terms of aim is applied and in terms of implementation is a descriptive survey one. The required information to develop literature of study using libraries and tools such as receipt were collected. To identify and extract the factors affecting the social perception the Delphi method was used. To obtain the data required to rank the identified factors, the field method and questionnaire with appropriate reliability and validity have been used. The study population consisted of all Kashan Shahid Beheshti hospital staff. The statistical sample according to the number of population and using Cochran method 225 people was obtained. Factors were assessed using the Delphi method; then, at the quantitative stage of research, the questionnaire was designed and data were collected from selected samples from employees. Using appropriate methods of analysis in terms of distribution of variables, the data were collected and social perception factors of Shahid Beheshti hospital staff were identified. Finally, using TOPSIS technique, factors were ranked. The results show among the identified factors values and attitude type, type of perceived communication and nonverbal behavior and are the most important factors affecting the Shahid Beheshti hospital staff’s social perception. Also, the factors of mental status, busy, and type of perceived dress (covering) were identified as the least significant effective factors on the social perception of staff

Social Networks: Libraries During Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how libraries provide services to their users. Social networks became one of the most important ways libraries could communicate with users during that time. This study aims to review articles that have addressed the roles, services, and challenges of libraries in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic on social networks. Methods: This study is a narrative review. The study population includes English-language articles indexed in reputable databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and articles retrieved through Google Scholar published in reputable journals. Results: Libraries have played various roles on social networks during the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite the challenges they faced, they shared their services on these networks with users. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has facilitated libraries’ acceptance and use of social networks and has led to the emergence of roles, speed in providing online services, and facing challenges. Familiarity with the different roles of libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic on social networks and utilizing the potential of these networks can provide useful information for policymakers to make informed decisions regarding the use of social networks, which can help make clearer decisions in the future when facing other pandemics and take measures to combat them

Role of Amorphous Calcium Phosphate in Dentistry

Objective: Amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) is a reactive solution capable of releasing calcium and phosphate ions, conversion to apatite and remineralization of mineral tooth structure. This study reviews ACP structure, its properties and its applications in dentistry.Methods: In this review study, keywords including “amorphous calcium phosphate”, “mineralization”, “hydroxyapatite”, “casein phosphopeptide”, “tissue engineering” and “dentistry” were searched in articles published during 1953-2013 in PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Embase and Medline databases. A total of 134 articles were evaluated.Results: ACP had high adhesion, adjustable dissociation rate, bone induction and excellent biocompatibility without cell toxicity. ACP alone or in combination with casein phosphopeptide (CPP) is incorporated into toothpastes, chewing gums, mouth rinses, tooth bleaching gels and food products to enhance remineralization and prevent demineralization. Also, it is used as filler in many dental materials namely glass ionomers, composite resins and bonding agents. Implant surface coating with ACP by radio frequency magnetron sputtering improves osseointegration especially at the final stages of healing.Conclusion: ACP is suitable for tissue regeneration and healing and is a potential remineralizing agent in dentistry

Investigating the Knowledge Management Infrastructures of SBMU-Affiliated Libraries

Introduction: Increasing productivity in academic libraries can be due to knowledge management. The successful implementation of knowledge management requires appropriate infrastructures. In this study, to determine the level of readiness of SBMU-affiliated libraries and to implement knowledge management, the infrastructure of the management approach, organizational culture, human resources, organizational structure, and information technology has been examined.   Methods: The descriptive-survey research method was used to determine the status of the infrastructures studied to obtain the opinions of 58 librarians working in the libraries of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. The opinions of 10 experts obtained to analyze the qualitative validity. Content validity‏ ratio (CVR) was calculated to analyze the quantitative content validity, content validity index (CVI), and the validity of each item, which was considered 62% and 79%, respectively. Cronbach's alpha was also used to measure reliability, which was 0.92, indicating that reliability is appropriate. A 5-point Likert scale was used to weigh a 50- item questionnaire.   Results: The mean obtained for the infrastructures of the management approach was 2.72, organizational structure 2.66, organizational culture 3.13, human resources 3.26, and technology 3.21, respectively.   Conclusion: The status of the two infrastructures of management approach and organizational structure was undesirable, and the three infrastructures of organizational culture, human resources, and technology were at a moderate level. Consequently, these infrastructures need investment and exceptional attention to provide a suitable platform for the implementation of knowledge management in the SBMU-affiliated libraries

Emergence of Sectarian Indigenous Militant Groups in Pakistan and Politicization of Militant Thought

The rise of sectarian groups in Pakistan has sprouted many internal challenges for the state as well as for the society. The issue of sectarianism is directly linked with the security and harmony of Pakistani society as it has culminated into a grave internal security challenge causing violence and loss of human life. The institutionalization of these groups and their role in the political landscape of Pakistan reflects their complicated nature, objectives and the overall discourse on which these groups are built. Despite the fact that government in various time periods have banned these sectarian militant groups but they were able to operate in shadows or under the banner of different names and roles. This piece of research aims to explicate their multidimensional roles and their capacity to operate and affect the security paradox as well as society as a whol

Efficacy of Educational Film for Enhancing Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude and Performance of Elementary Students

Objective: Oral hygiene must start at a young age. Childhood is the perfect time to start the conversion of knowledge into creative thinking and subsequent health care activity. This study  aimed to assess the efficacy of oral hygiene instruction via an educational film for oral health promotion of elementary students.Methods: In this experimental, interventional, before and after study, data were collected using an author-designed questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed using face validity while its reliability was approved using Cronbach’s alpha statistics. The study population comprised of all four graders of an elementary school in district 14 of Tehran in 2012-2013. An educational package containing an educational film on oral hygiene suitable for children aged 10-12 years was prepared and a questionnaire was designed according to the educational content of the film. The questionnaires were filled by the students before and two weeks after watching the film. Data were analyzed using paired t-test at 0.05 level of significance.Results: Significant differences were noted in level of knowledge, attitude and function of students after the intervention compared to their baseline state. According to t-test, the mean knowledge, the mean attitude and the mean short-term performance scores after the intervention were 15.43 (0.9 increase) (p<0.05), 28.11 (9.35 increase) (p<0.001) and 26.79 (9.02 increase) (p<0.001) respectively. Conclusion: This study indicated the positive effect of instruction via an educational film on knowledge, attitude and short-term performance of students in terms of oral hygiene. Health workers must plan such effective interventions to promote public dental health

Investigating Web impact factors of type 1, type 2 and type 3 medical universities in Iran

Investigation of the web impact factor and analysis of the web links belong to webometric studies. A high impact factor, accompanied by more frequent links to a particular website, can indicate greater influence and better accessibility of that particular site. In this regard, bearing in mind the significance of medical universities' web sites for education and research, the current study compared and analyzed their impact factors, their web links and web pages, using AltaVista search engine. The investigation included different ranks of medical universities, commonly referred to as type 1, type 2 and type 3 universities in Iran. The median was used as a measure of central tendency of the scores. The search engines of AltaVista were adopted on 26 February 2010 to collect the data. According to the results, in terms of indexed pages, Shahid Baheshti of type 1, Guilan of type 2, and Shahrekord of type 3 universities had the best records. Regarding web links, medical universities of Iran, Kermanshah and Lorestan, from type 1, type 2 and type 3 universities had the best records and, in terms of impact factor, universities of Ahvaz (type 1), Zahedan (type 2), and Fessa (type 3) manifested the greatest influence. As the results imply, the universities are expected to pay more attention to webometric issues; they are also recommended to allocate more budget to enhance their web pages