Narrating the Pandit Exodus: A Study of Indian Administrate Kashmir

The rigging of the 1987 elections in Jammu and Kashmir Legislative assembly led to huge unrest among the youth and it gave rise to the armed struggle and consequently led to the forced migration of Kashmiri Pandit community. There are different views about the pandit exodus in Kashmir. There were few who held Jagmohan responsible for the exodus. Some people said Pandits left on their own because of the frightening situation in the Valley. Such people naturally emphasized how sponsored armed militancy destroyed peace and ruined communal harmony. A few said Kashmiri Muslims did nothing to prevent the Pandit exodus, although many felt the majority community was itself scared and it was impossible for them to stop the exodus. In this regard, the paper aims to provide different narratives to the Pandit exodus

Effects of COD/N ratio on soluble microbial products in effluent from sequencing batch reactors and subsequent membrane fouling

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd The relative ratios of chemical oxygen demand (COD) to nitrogen (N) in wastewater are known to have profound effects on the characteristics of soluble microbial products (SMP) from activated sludge. In this study, the changes in the SMP characteristics upon different COD/N ratios and the subsequent effects on ultrafiltration (UF) membrane fouling potentials were examined in sequencing batch reactors (SBR) using excitation emission matrix-parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Three unique fluorescent components were identified from the SMP samples in the bioreactors operated at the COD/N ratios of 100/10 (N rich), 100/5 (N medium), and 100/2 (N deficient). The tryptophan-like component (C1) was the most depleted at the N medium condition. Fulvic-like (C2) and humic-like (C3) components were more abundant with N rich wastewater. Greater abundances of large size biopolymer (BP) and low molecular weight neutrals (LMWN) were found under the N deficient and N rich conditions, respectively. SMPs from various COD/N exhibited a greater degree on membrane fouling following the order of 100/2 > 100/10 > 100/5. C1 and C2 had close associations with reversible and irreversible fouling, respectively, while the reversible fouling potential of C3 depended on the COD/N ratios. No significant impact of COD/N ratio was observed on the relative contributions of SMP size fractions to either reversible or irreversible fouling potential. However, the COD/N ratios likely altered the BP foulants' composition with greater contribution of proteinaceous substances to reversible fouling under the N deficient condition than at other N richer conditions. The opposite trend was observed for irreversible fouling. Our results provided further insight into changes in different SMP constitutes and their membrane fouling in response to microbial activities under different COD/N ratios

CuO and CeO2 Nanostructures Green Synthesized Using Olive Leaf Extract Inhibits the Growth of Highly Virulent Multidrug Resistant Bacteria

One of the major challenges of nano-biotechnology is to engineer potent antimicrobial nanostructures (NS) with high biocompatibility. Keeping this in view, we have performed aqueous olive leaf extract mediated one pot facile synthesis of CuO-NS and CeO2-NS. Prepared NS were homogenous, less than 26 nm in size, and small crystallite units as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of CuO-NS and CeO2-NS showed typical Cu-O prints around 592–660 cm-1 and Ce-O bond vibrations at 453 cm-1. The successful capping of CuO-NS and CeO2-NS by compounds present in the plant extract was further validated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Active phyto-chemicals from the leaf extract simultaneously acted as strong reducing as well as capping agent in the NS synthesis. NS engineered in the present study showed antibacterial potential at extremely low concentration against highly virulent multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative strains (Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), alarmed by World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, CuO-NS and CeO2-NS did not show any cytotoxicity on HEK-293 cell lines and Brine shrimp larvae indicating that the NS green synthesized in the present study are biocompatible

Woodlot farming by smallholder farmers in Ganderbal district of Kashmir, India

Forest degradation and deforestation are serious threats to resource conservation, subsistence livelihoods and rural income diversification. Woodlot farming on farms has been established as a potential option to increase forest resources from agricultural landscapes and remove human pressure from forests. The study investigated the land-use and landholding pattern, woodlots types and species preference and extent of spatial distribution, land allocation and growing stock of woodlots in the Ganderbal district of Kashmir. Multistage random sampling technique was employed to select 349 farm woodlots from 12 sample villages. Secondary sources were used to collect village-level data on land-use and landholding pattern. Primary data concerning the trees were collected through farm woodlot inventories. The data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. Results revealed that the total land area in the sample villages is 888.60 ha; 521.60 ha (58.70%) is cultivated land, which is mostly (80.78%) occupied by 1244 marginal farmers. The prevalent woodlots established were plantations of Populus, Salix, Robinia or mixed species. The farm woodlots (61.59 ha) contributed 11.81% of cultivated land and 6.93% of the total geographical area. The average growing stocks of woodlots were estimated to be 204.05 m3/ha for Populus, 191.77 m3/ha for Salix, 109.51 m3/ha for Robinia and 62.31 m3/ha for Mixed. The findings suggested that woodlot farming is the key alternative for forest resource production, livelihood resilience and socioeconomic improvement; hence, the policy must be implicated towards the promotion of woodlot farming by re-orienting the land use through farmer’s motivation and technical, financial and farming input assistance

Association of vital pulp therapy outcomes with tooth type, arch location, treatment type, and number of surfaces destroyed in deciduous teeth: A retrospective study

There is a paucity of information concerning vital pulp treatment outcomes in the undergraduate teaching setting. This study aimed to determine which type of deciduous molar, arch location, type of vital pulp therapy, and the number of carious surfaces involved had a better prognosis when carried out by undergraduate dental students. The method used was the review of clinical records of 590 patients with 600 deciduous molars, that visited the outpatient undergraduate dental clinics for vital pulp therapy. Statistical analysis used to determine the associations of tooth type, arch location, treatment type, and the number of carious surfaces involved in successful outcomes was logistic regression analysis with significance set at p < 0.05. According to the regression analysis model results, there was a significant association based on tooth type (p < 0.05) and arch location (p = 0.003). In addition, there was a significant association based on the type of treatment performed (p = 0.036). However, there was no significant association in success rates based on the number of carious surfaces involved (p = 0.873). In conclusion, second deciduous molars and maxillary deciduous molars had a better overall prognosis, and indirect pulp therapy was revealed to be more highly associated with successful treatment outcomes in comparison to ferric sulfate pulpotomy in our setting

Foliar applied proline and acetic acid improves growth and yield of wheat under salinity stress by improving photosynthetic pigments, physiological traits, antioxidant activities and nutrient uptake

Salinity stress (SS) is serious abiotic stress and a major limiting factor for crop productivity and global food security. In this context, the application of osmolytes is considered as an environmental friend approach to improve plant growth under SS. Thus, the present study was conducted to determine the impact of foliar applied proline (Pro) and acetic acid (AA) on growth, yield, physiological traits, photosynthetic pigments, ionic homeostasis and antioxidant activities of wheat under SS. The study contained SS levels 0, 6 and 12 dS m-1 and foliar spray of Pro and AA; water spray, Pro (75 mM), AA (15 mM) and AA (30 mM). The study was conducted in a completely randomized design with the factorial arrangement. Salinity stress significantly reduced wheat growth and yield, by decreasing relative water contents (-49.07%), photosynthetic pigments, free amino acids (FAA: -44.79%), total soluble proteins (TSP: -15.94%) and increasing the electrolyte leakage (EL: +27.28%), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2: +51.86%), and malondialdehyde (MDA: +36.91%) accumulation. The foliar spray of Pro and AA markedly improved the wheat growth and productivity through enhanced photosynthetic pigments, RWC, FAA, TSP, antioxidant activities (catalase: CAT, ascorbate peroxide: APX: peroxidase: POD), K+ and Ca2+ uptake and decreasing EL, MDA and H2O2 accumulation and restricted entry of toxic ions (Na+ and Cl-1).  Therefore, foliar application of AA and Pro effectively improves the growth and yield of wheat under SS by strengthening the antioxidant defense system, and maintaining ionic homeostasis and physiological performance

The critical role of nitrogen in plants facing the salinity stress: Review and future prospective

Salinity stress is a serious abiotic stress that negatively affect the crop growth and development. Mineral nutrient supplementation is considered as an effective strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of salinity. Nitrogen (N) is an important nutrient needed for plants and its application also an effective strategy to mitigate adverse impacts of salinity. Salinity stress disturbs plant physiological, and biochemical functions, antioxidant activities, cellular membranes, antioxidant activities and nutrient uptake thereby cause significant reduction in plant growth and development. The application of N maintains membrane stability, plant water relations, leaf gas exchange characteristics, and protect the plants from oxidative damages which induce the salt tolerance in plants. Besides, this N also improves nutrient uptake and it also induce cellular signaling that mitigate the adverse impacts of salinity. Therefore, it is interesting to understand the role of N in inducing salt tolerance in plants. In present review the mechanisms of N uptake and assimilation in plants under saline conditions are discussed. The present review provides information on how N mitigates ionic toxicity, and oxidative damages and maintains nutrient balance to counter the toxic effects of salinity stress in plants. This review will help the readers to learning more about the role of N in inducing salt tolerance in plants

Molecular characterization of interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma

Interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma is an extremely rare cancer that lacks a standard treatment approach. We report on a patient who was surgically resected and remains disease- free. The tumor was assessed for druggable targets using immunohistochemical staining to identify potential agents that could be used in the event of disease recurrence

A multicenter case control study of association of vitamin D with breast cancer among women in Karachi, Pakistan

BACKGROUND:The prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy and breast cancer are both high among women living in Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS:A matched case control study was conducted in two hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan to evaluate the association of vitamin D (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D) concentrations, vitamin D supplementation and sun exposure with breast cancer among Pakistani women. A total of 411 newly diagnosed histologically confirmed primary breast cancer cases were enrolled and 784 controls, free of breast and any other cancers, were matched by age (year of birth ± 5 years), residence in the same geographic area and study site. Information was collected on sociodemographic history, history of vitamin D supplementation, past medical and obstetrical history, family history of breast cancer, sun exposure history, histopathology reports and anthropometric measurement and venous blood was collected to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration. RESULTS:Compared to patients with sufficient serum vitamin D (>30 ng/ml), women with serum vitamin D deficiency (<20ng/ml), had a higher risk of breast cancer (OR = 1.65, 95%CI: 1.10, 2.50). Women with history of vitamin D supplementation one year prior to enrollment, had significant protective effect against breast cancer (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.43). CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION:Serum vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased risk of breast cancer, while vitamin D supplementation was associated with decreased risk of breast cancer. In Pakistani women, where vitamin D deficiency is common, raising and maintaining serum vitamin D at population level is a safe and affordable strategy. It may play a role in reducing the incidence of both vitamin D deficiency and breast cancer, particularly among poor women where the breast cancer mortality is highest due to limited resources for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. The effects of vitamin D with regard to breast cancer risk in Karachi Pakistan should be further evaluated.Uzma Shamsi, Shaista Khan, Iqbal Azam, Aysha Habib Khan ... Tiffany Gill ... David Callen ... et al