The UN needs to be salvaged

“All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination,” reads the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, one of the foundational documents of the United Nations (UN). The formation of the UN at the end of Second World War is deemed a defining milestone in the course of human civilization – a moment of powerful cross-continental solidarity. It’s aims of maintaining world peace and preserving human dignity devoid of racial, ethno-sectarian, political or gender affiliations were unheard of; so was its commitment to the devolution of colonial structures. The UN established itself as an institution of bravery, prestige and most crucial of all, trustworthiness

Trampling human rights in Kashmir

According to the CIA’s World Factbook, Jammu & Kashmir, commonly referred to as Kashmir, is occupied by India, China and Pakistan. It remains the site of world’s largest and most militarized territorial dispute. Kashmir, primarily seen as a point of fierce contestation amongst the nuclear armed India and Pakistan, encompasses complex internal political dimensions with a massive constituency vying for complete sovereignty. In the Indian-occupied part, the movement for national self-determination has taken multiple forms: the Plebiscite Movement of the 1950s and 60s, popular armed uprisings of the late 1980s, and massive street protests, also dubbed as intifadas, of 2008, 2010, and 2016. The thread that binds every phase of Kashmiri uprisings however is the scorched-earth response of the Indian state. With 700,000 Indian armed forces—one for every seventeen Kashmiris—deployed throughout the past 69 years of Indian rule, north of seventy thousand civilians have been killed, around ten thousand subject to enforced disappearance and thousands tortured. According to Human Rights Watch, Indian forces have consistently used rape as a weapon of war. Moreover, upwards of six thousand mass and unmarked graves have been discovered by various human rights groups

Impact of Internet Blockade Post Abrogation of Article 370 of Indian Constitution on Doctoral Students Pursuing Research in Kashmir

This paper aims to gauge the impact of internet blockade on the research students pursuing research in Kashmir post abrogation of article 370 of Indian constitution that granted political autonomy to erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir. In order to collect the data survey method was employed. A close-ended questionnaire was distributed among the select group. The data for the study was gathered from these questionnaires as per the objectives was analysed and interpreted to reach logical conclusions. The study revealed that the majority (76.92%) of researchers are of the view that the internet is a backbone for education and research. In the absence of the internet facility, the majority of research students (74.04%) were not able to pursue their research, while the research work of 61.54% was extremely hampered by 76-100%. It was also observed that the majority of researchers (78.85%) failed to complete their research in a set timeline, thereby hampering their academic growth. Majority of the research students (77.88%) failed to access the internet in e-kiosks setup by the administration due to the huge rush outside these centres while 42.31% migrated to mainland India avail internet facility. The study also explored the information seeking pattern of respondents before the internet blockade and it was observed that the majority of scholars (80.77%) consulted both print and online sources of information before the blockade. The researchers also claimed that resources of the library are not current and comprehensive. The study can be a good starting point for the researchers to understand how people cope with limited information sources, in the absence of the internet. It will also be beneficial for the information scientists in making plans and strategies for tackling such e-crises in the future. The study does not claim to be the final word in this matter as respondents were limited to only one university though university under study is the oldest and major source of imparting higher education in Kashmir valley

Sitagliptin induced splenic infarcts

  Sitagliptin belongs to the class of dipeptidyl pepti­dase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. DPP-4 inhibitors are remark­ably well tolerated oral antihyperglycemic drugs with an adverse effect profile similar to that of placebo. No adverse effects have been reported even with overdose of sitagliptin in suicide attempts. We present here case summary of a 35-year-old female with type 2 diabetes mellitus and major depressive disorder who presented with multiple splenic infarcts after ingestion of sitag­liptin 700 mg and metformin 14 g with suicidal intent. To the best of our knowledge, there are no published reports of splenic infarcts as an adverse event of sit­agliptin. (Clin Diabetol 2017; 6, 6: 215–217

Myxedema Coma: A New Look into an Old Crisis

Myxedema crisis is a severe life threatening form of decompensated hypothyroidism which is associated with a high mortality rate. Infections and discontinuation of thyroid supplements are the major precipitating factors while hypothermia may not play a major role in tropical countries. Low intracellular T3 leads to cardiogenic shock, respiratory depression, hypothermia and coma. Patients are identified on the basis of a low index of suspicion with a careful history and examination focused on features of hypothyroidism and precipitating factors. Arrythmias and coagulation disorders are increasingly being identified in myxedema crisis. Thyroid replacement should be initiated as early as possible with careful attention to hypotension, fluid replacement and steroid replacement in an intensive care facility. Studies have shown that replacement of thyroid hormone through ryles tube with a loading dose and maintenance therapy is as efficacious as intravenous therapy. In many countries T3 is not available and oral therapy with T4 can be used effectively without major significant difference in outcomes. Hypotension, bradycardia at presentation, need for mechanical ventilation, hypothermia unresponsive to treatment, sepsis, intake of sedative drugs, lower GCS and high APACHE II scores and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores more than 6 are significant predictors of mortality in myxedema crisis. Early intervention in hypothyroid patients developing sepsis and other precipitating factors and ensuring continued intake of thyroid supplements may prevent mortality and morbidity associated with myxedema crisis

Zawały śledziony spowodowane stosowaniem sitagliptyny

  Sitagliptyna należy do klasy inhibitorów dipeptydy­lopeptydazy-4 (DPP-4). Inhibitory DPP-4 są bardzo dobrze tolerowanymi doustnymi lekami przeciwhi­perglikemicznymi, a ich profil działań niepożądanych jest podobny jak przy stosowaniu placebo. Działań niepożądanych nie obserwowano nawet w przypad­kach przedawkowania sitagliptyny w celu popełnienia samobójstwa. W niniejszej pracy przedstawiono przy­padek 35-letniej kobiety z cukrzycą typu 2 i ciężkim zaburzeniem depresyjnym, u której stwierdzono liczne zawały śledziony po zażyciu — w celu popełnienia samobójstwa — 700 mg sitagliptyny i 14 mg metfor­miny. Według najlepszej wiedzy autorów dotychczas nie publikowano żadnych doniesień na temat zawałów śledziony jako działania niepożądanego sitagliptyny

Effect of moisture regimes on the productivity and quality of Red delicious/M9under valley conditions”

Studies on the “Effect of moisture regimes on the productivity and quality of Red Delicious’/M9under valley conditions. “were carried out at the Horticultural Research Farm, Division of Pomology,SKUAST,Shalimar during the year 1996 and 1997. The effect of six moisture regimes based on 1W: CPE ratios was tested on eighteen year old apple trees of ‘Red Delicious’ grafted on M¬9 root stocks. Two plants for each treatment were selected and replicated four times. Phonological observation made during the studies did not reveal any differences among the various moisture treatments in respect of green tip stage, pink bud stage, full bloom stage, initial fruitset, June and Preharvest drop. However, final fruitset, yield and yield efficiency was maximum under treatment based on 0.75Iw: CPE ratio. Various growth characteristics viz. stem girth increased, annual extension growth shoot dry matter content and leaf area were significantly increased with increase in soil moisture content compared to control. Similarly, concentration of leaf nutrients (N, P, K) were recorded maximum under the highest moisture regimes. The minimum under control. Fruit physical characteristics viz. fruit diameter, weight and volume were significantly influenced by increased moisture regimes. The fruit shape (L/D ratio) was found better under medium moisture regimes (T4). However, fruit firmness was maximum under control compared to other treatments. Organoleptic rating and red coloration was also improved by medium soil moisture regime. Various chemical characteristics like total sugars, non-reducing sugars, total soluble solids and fruit acidity were reduced with increased moisture regimes. However, the fruit juice content was maximum under the highest moisture level. Transpiration rate and relative water content of leaves increased with advancement in growing season upto July, thereafter declined and maximum transpiration and RWC was recorded under highest moisture regime. The stomatal pore width and length was maximum in the trees receiving maximum moisture. Under Ambient storage conditions, maximum physiological loss in weight of fruit was observed from the trees receiving maximum moisture. At 100 days of storage ,fruits were softer and less acidic. Sugars ( total, reducing and non-reducing) registered a marked increase during first two months of storage, thereafter decreased upto the end of storage period. The studies indicated that under temperate conditions of the valley, the treatment (T4 ), a medium range soil moisture regime based on 1W:CPE ratio of 0.75 proved a good choice for irrigating Red Delicious/ M9because of high yield as a result of increased fruit size under this moisture regime can be satisfactorily stored for two months under ambient storage conditions with acceptable fruit firmness, acidity and sugar content. However, the benefits from greater yield and high quality of apple fruit grown under medium soil moisture regime far outweigh the determine of the shorter storage life