Indian Science Research Articles

Knowledge and Awareness of Emerging Cancer Therapies and their Regulations among Budding Scientists in India: A Survey

Background: Academic clinical research is considered the most important for cancer research because it frequently tests novel drug combinations, investigates rarer diseases, and lowers the risk for future commercial investments. However, due to the potential risks to the cancer patient, clinical research is governed by strict regulations. In high-income countries, comprehensive cancer centers (CCCs) have been established to align academic clinical cancer research with the regulatory framework. In comparison, academic clinical cancer research is considered ineffective in low-income countries. Methods: A cross-sectional, online survey was conducted to evaluate the knowledge of Indian health science students regarding cutting-edge cancer therapeutics and their underlying regulatory requirements. Results: The survey found that 163 out of the 265 respondents were aware of the challenges of developing safe and effective anticancer therapeutics. 43 respondents found no challenges, while 59 respondents were unaware of any. Out of 163, 44 respondents identified technical challenges, 31 identified regulatory issues, and 88 identified both challenges in developing novel anticancer therapeutics. Interestingly, only 83 students out of 265, study cancer therapy regulations in their curriculum. This clearly indicates that most of India's health science students have a significant lack of understanding about the regulations for new cancer treatments. Conclusion: Academic clinical cancer research in India is just recognized as a prerequisite for degree completion due to a lack of regulatory foundation. An emphasis should be placed on restructuring the coursework offered to health science students to improve their ability to translate theoretical cancer research to real-world clinical care.

English and Regional Media Coverage of the 2022 Heatwave in India

ABSTRACT The 2022 heatwave in India formed part of a pattern of extreme weather events in the country, which are becoming more intense, frequent, or prolonged. The aim of this study is to explore media coverage of climate change and extreme events in a multilingual media context such as India. Data analysis of a large and diverse sample of Indian media coverage of the 2022 heatwave (n = 309) suggests that only 1 in every 7 news articles (14%) mentioned climate change in their heatwave coverage in the English press, and less than 10% in the Hindi, Telugu, and Marathi language news media. However, many English-language articles reported the links between climate change and the heatwave, although the figure was much lower for the other languages. Two Event Attribution studies analyzing the heatwave were widely quoted, albeit with some inaccuracies. Indian scientists were the most cited, whereas politicians and NGOs were largely absent, in contrast to previous research. Journalists regularly covered three aspects that affect the impact of the heatwave on ordinary people, namely emergency responses, disaster planning, and vulnerabilities. This study concludes by exploring theoretical and practical recommendations for media coverage of heatwaves and climate change.

A Review to Illustrate the Concept of Krimi in Ayurveda

Background: Knowledge of Krimi and its description in Vedas and Ayurvedic Samhitas is very unique and different from the concept of worm in modern medical science. Krimi is a broad terminology in ancient Indian science which encompasses various types of helminths, microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa causing a large variety of diseases. Materials and Methods: A narrative review was conducted and result was presented under the result. Result and Discussion: Krimi Roga is one among the various diseases which must be paid prime attention in terms of Ayurveda management. Drugs and formulations from herbal sources play key role in management of these helminthic and parasitic infections. A majority of patients being from pediatric age segment, the knowledge of Krimi Roga management may bring a boon to pediatric ailments. Conclusion: Ayurveda believes in Prakriti (specific body constitution of the individual), if we can change the internal environment of the intestine (Kostha) through Apkarshana, Prakriti Vighata and Nidana parivarjana using appropriate drugs as well as enhancing the strength of Agni; then, affinity towards production and multiplication of Krimi may be arrested and hence, the ailments can be treated. Krimi is a condition, affecting all age groups, but children have always been at risk due to their playful activities and lack of maintenance of adequate personal hygiene. Once infected, the entire family may eventually get affected from the infected children.[1] If we consider Drishya Krimi as worm infestation, In India, more than 200 million children are infected on an average with roundworm, hookworm, etc. In Ayurveda, several causes (nidanas) have been mentioned for development of Krimi (microbes/worms) in human body like Ajirna (indigestion in GIT), Adhyashana (eating even when the previous meal has not been digested), Asatmyaahara, Virudhasana, Malinasana (incompatible foods or unhygienic meal habit), Avyayam (sedentary lifestyle), Diwaswapna (sleeping during the daytime), Guru (heavy), Atisnigdha (excessively fatty diet), Atisheet Ahara-Vihara (cold

Health effects of selected environmental Exposomes Across the Life courSe in Indian populations using longitudinal cohort studies: GEOHealth HEALS Study protocol

IntroductionAir pollution presents a major public health threat to India, affecting more than three quarters of the country’s population. In the current project, GEOHealth Health Effects of Selected Environmental Exposomes...

Artistic mutilation of genitalia: an interpretive analysis of representations of genitalia in Indian school science textbooks

ABSTRACT Visual representations (and their censorship) are carriers of messages and are powerful tools to invoke discourses. Visuals are not just supplements to written text; rather, these can be read independently as the primary text and are crucial to scientific communication, particularly in life sciences. This paper aims to investigate various textbook depictions of genitalia and examine how ideologies are manifested through visuals in relation to the human body. Here we try to unpack the visual representations of genitalia in different discursive spaces within Indian science textbooks from 6th to 12th grade. We position our study within the hermeneutic methodological landscape and apply the socio-semiotic analytic framework developed by Serafini [Serafini, Frank. 2010. “Reading Multimodal Texts: Perceptual, Structural and Ideological Perspectives.” Children's Literature in Education 41 (2): 85–104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10583-010-9100-5], consisting of three analytic perspectives: perceptual, structural, and ideological, to interpret the visual images of genitalia and the ideological matrix that produced these images. Our analysis of textbooks' portrayal reveals a tendency to censor or obscure genital depictions. The paper discusses the potential effects of these representations on students' health and relationships with their bodies and argues that they must engage in dialogue with discourses challenging normative understandings of the body and remain open to change.

Cold Moves: Cryogenics in Indo-German Research Networks.

By unravelling the complexities and dynamics of a collaboration between scientists in India and West Germany to establish a cryogenic network, this paper intends to contribute to our understanding of the transnational movement of research technologies during the Cold War. In 1971, a cryogenic laboratory including a helium and a nitrogen liquefier was set up at the physics department of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras as part of the Indo-German partnership at IIT Madras between 1959 and 1974. As a generic research technology with many applications, cryogenics became crucial for a solid state research agenda for semiconductor development. After initial difficulties, Ramaswami Srinivasan at IIT Madras and Gustav Klipping of the Fritz Haber Institute in Berlin built a successful collaboration based on mutual trust and on Indian and German scientists travelling and working in each other's laboratories. If the initial motivation of the Indo-German partnership was informed by the logic of Cold War development policy, Klipping and Srinivasan developed their collaboration into a vibrant cryogenic research network around different actors, instruments, and skills moving between India and the Federal Republic of Germany.

Migrant Techniques and Subversive Milieus

How do we conceive diversification in the milieu of technics? Though associated-milieu is a useful concept, the Indian terrain of techniques impels one to underscore the notion as a milieu of subversion. The paper begins with a reading of the seminal work done by Debiprasad Chattopadhaya analyzing the impediments in writing a history of ancient Indian science and technology. Whether his effort resuscitating a history of materialism succeeds in interpolating a history of techniques in India is a critique this paper explores, taking cues from Yuk Hui’s incisive reading of the perceived absence of traditions of technical thinking in China, or broadly Asia. Present paper builds on Hui’s concept of “cosmotechnics” alongside the notion of “associated milieus” of counter-cultural techniques of Yoga and Tantra. In the second half, the paper brings into view how these Indian thought and practice traditions of Tantra and Yoga as techniques of the cosmic self and the body are woven into counter-cultures eliciting a critical framework for thinking these associated-milieus as exiled and migrated milieus.

Study of Variations of Citation-based Parameters for Selected Indian Science Journals

The ratio of the total number of citations to the total number of cited papers was predicted as a constant by Garfield. But, later he observed the changing nature of this constant over time. Scientometricians called it the ‘Garfield Ratio’ rather than the ‘Garfield Constant’. ‘Garfield Ratio’ is a well-known citation-based parameter that indicates the average citation per cited article. However, Garfield still pointed out that behind this ratio some deeper regularity may be found. In this paper, an analysis of this indicator, the Garfield Ratio (GR)Y is attempted for twelve prominent Indian science journals from 2009 to 2020. Two other formulae for Garfield Ratio are introduced here, i.e. Modified Garfield Ratio for the year ‘Y’ (GRM)Y and Time-Normalised Garfield Ratio for the year ‘Y’ (GRN)Y. The year-wise analysis of these two Garfield Ratios, i.e., (GRM)Y and (GRN)Y for the twelve journals over twelve years is also carried out. The temporal variations of (GR)Y, (GRM)Y and (GRN)Y are interpreted by seven statistical parameters, i.e. mean, median, standard deviation, range, coefficient of variation, skewness and kurtosis. The temporal variations of (GR)Y for twelve journals are viewed by regression analysis to find out the best-fit function.

Scientific temper: towards an alternate model of science-society relationships

Scientific temper, a mainstay in Indian science policies and science communication/education programmes, conceptualises citizens as scientifically conscious and powerful agents that approach societal issues with a rational and critical mind rather than taking refuge in religious, superstitious and pseudoscientific worldviews. Our essay provides a brief history of this term and compares it with existing science communication models to demonstrate how, despite sharing commonalities, it is distinct from models like deficit, dialogue, and participation. We elucidate how scientific temper fosters critical features like a process-oriented approach, reflexivity, democratisation of scientific expertise and being a potential tool for decolonisation. Lastly, we propose scientific temper as an alternate framework for democratising knowledge-making and -sharing, building an engaged deliberative citizenry, and studying science-society relationships overall.

Silent epidemic of silicotuberculosis in India and emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis?

ObjectivesIndia's projected silica-dust-exposed workers will be 52 million at the end of 2025. The elimination of tuberculosis (TB) is also targeted in India by 2025. Scientists in India have already pointed out that unless silicosis is controlled, the said elimination will be difficult to achieve. Methods and ResultsThis study provides evidence of an increasing incidence of tuberculosis (TB) including multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) with mortality owing to treatment failure among the silica dust-exposed workers compared to their unexposed counterpart. It was also observed that TB as well as MDR-TB were directly proportional to the dose and/or duration of silica dust exposure (progression of silica-dust induced lung damage). This means the occurrence of both TB and MDR-TB is lowest in the unexposed group, moderate in the radiologically negative but silica dust-exposed group (subradiological silicosis owing to moderate exposure), and highest in the radiologically confirmed silicotic workers (maximally exposed group). Because India has a huge burden of silicosis cases, the said cases are vulnerable to pulmonary TB, including MDR-TB. The study indicates there will be an emergence of MDR-TB among the silica dust-exposed workers unless appropriate intervention measures are initiated with immediate effect. Failure to do so, it will probably lead to a silent epidemic of silicotuberculosis in India shortly. ConclusionsIt is important to have tools to detect silicosis cases quickly and at an early stage to identify a vulnerable population and adopt an effective intervention measure.

CO-RELATION OF ANCIENT YANTRA AND MODERN SURGICAL INSTRU-MENTS-A REVIEW

Introduction-Ayurveda is an ancient medical science, and Surgery is one of Ayurveda’s oldest modalities of the medical system; it is believed that ancient Indian scientists explored essential knowledge of Shastrakarma.Ayurveda contains detailed descriptions of the techniques and practices of the great ancient surgeon Sushruta.Who has considerable surgical knowledge that is relevant even today also. The ancient surgical science was known as ShalyaTantra.Sushrut Samhita elaborates on Yantra and Shastras, used for various Shastra karma. Shalyas affect both Manas and Shareera; Yantras are used to remove this Shalya. Now a day’s same techniques are used for pain management. Efforts in this article are to correlate Sushrutokta Ancient Yantra with modern surgical instruments/equipment. Materials and methods: Ayurvedic and Modern Texts and Websites. Result: Many Yantras are like modern surgical Instruments in appearance, and modern ones with different names now adopt Funclikeh. Conclusion: As time progressed and new metals (like stainless steel and copper) were invented, the shape and length of instruments changed. But the aim of the instruments remains the same,i.e., the removal of Shalya.

Hurdles and Challenges Perceived by Women Scientists in India

Women constitute a high percentage of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduates in India but this is not well reflected at the professional level. It is believed that women face numerous challenges, affecting not only their choice of STEM as a career but also their professional and personal lives. Thus, it is essential to understand the underlying causes. The study aims to explore the hurdles faced by women in CSIR laboratories. A primary survey, using questionnaires, was conducted to gain a realistic and holistic view of their experiences of working and the differences they come across in the work environment compared to the other gender. Data was collected from 582 women scientists, technical staff, and students. The survey explored the role of personal, institutional, and social factors responsible for promotions/ hindrances in the scientific career. Analyses were conducted using both quantitative and qualitative data. Insights and suggestions were also sought from the respondents to enhance further understanding and remedial measures. Suitable policies could be framed based on the recommendations for gender equality in STEM.

Portraying Political Ideas of National Revolutionaries: A Case Study of Pandurang Mahadev Bapat

The term ‘revolutionary’ has a unique connotation in India’s struggle for national liberation. It refers to those freedom fighters who scrupulously believed in the efficacy of armed resistance to overthrow British rule in India and justified employing extremist techniques to achieve the objective. Consequently, national revolutionism creates a distinct stream of thinking in the Indian national movement from both the moderate and extremist currents in the movement. While there is no end to the literature on both moderate and extremist thinking in British India, the political philosophy of the revolutionaries has not been satisfactorily addressed by academia in a meaningful manner. While there are a few notable exceptions, social scientists in India have generally ignored the revolutionary political ideas because of the foundation of British authority over Indian land; the nation’s political development began to follow a pattern identical to the Western development model. Following that, some extensive Western influences were seen in education, economy, government organisation and administration, significantly impacting the intellectual development of the time. Moreover, the ideas of revolutionaries were, for the most part, immediate intellectual responses to the political challenges and crises that existed at the time of their birth. However, some of these topics were significant, such as formulating a critique of British imperialism, defining the national identity, reorganising Indian society and developing plans for national liberation. As a result, it will be necessary to examine and evaluate the political views of these revolutionaries in the context of the concerns and problems with which they were confronted at the time. This research explores and explains Bapat’s political thought and situates him in Maharashtra’s revolutionary and Hindu political traditions. Lastly, in the first instance, this research proposes a brief look at the development of Bapat’s political career, which played a vital role in shaping his political ideas. Then, it explores the significant politics of colonial and post-colonial times.

Ancient Indian Diet – A Balanced Diet for the Healthy Diversity of Gut Microbiota and Management of Asthma

Modernization, a stressful lifestyle, attachment to a Western diet, and the use of preserved and processed foods lead to a loss of homeostasis of intestinal microbial diversity. The use of refined flour and refined sugar, which lack of micro biota-accessible carbohydrates (MAC), means dietary fiber high salt consumption, and saturated fats in fried and packaged foods cause gut microbiota dysbiosis. Microbial dysbiosis caused by high fat, salt, and lack of fiber causes several metabolic diseases, including asthma. The objective of the study is to develop a hypothetic model that “Ancient Indian diet” which is inspired by thousands of years of Indian science, including Yoga, Ayurveda, and Naturopathy may maintain the diversity of the gut microbiota and may inhibits the asthmatic symptoms by enhancing the growth of antiasthmatic bacteria. A keyword search utilizing the phrases "western diet, beneficial microbiota, asthma, gut microbial dysbiosis, Ancient Indian diet" was conducted electronically search through the SCOPUS ,Science Direct ,PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases. Search criteria are divided into two arms the first one includes different full-text research papers including how Indian diet altered gut microbial composition. The second one, we included the full text including how presence of certain gut microbiota can prevents the asthmatic attack. To find publications that met the eligibility requirements, the first and third authors separately reviewed each publication's title and abstract using the previously described inclusion criteria. We have included 124 research articles, which is published between 1989 to 2024. A plant-based ancient Indian diet increases the diversity of Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Prevotella, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, Roseburia, Lactobacillus, Lachnospira, Akkermansia and shows inhibitory effects against Clostridium, E. coli, Staphylococcus, Haemophilus, Moraxella and Neisseria. The ancient Indian diet a low-fat lacto-vegetarian diet maintains gut microbiota homeostasis, and suppresses the growth of pathogenic asthmatic bacteria and promotes the growth of beneficial asthmatic bacteria.

What do early-career life scientists in India want?

What do early-career life scientists in India want?

Imagining Alternatives: Exploring Postcolonial Paradigms and Resistance in Indian Science Fiction Narratives

The proposed research aims to establish science fiction as a critical framework that can challenge preconceived notions of Western science fiction and provide alternative possibilities of existence. The study involves reading various SF narratives from different ages, including Sultana’s Dream (1905), Calcutta Chromosome (1995), Escape (2008), The Island of Lost Girls (2015), and The Woman Who Thought She Was a Planet and Other Stories (2008). The goal is to show how this subgenre reflects a postcolonial society's struggle to establish a foothold in the new world order. These works present a vision of national consciousness that is influenced by the Western canon but is proud of its traditions.

VEDIC ASTRONOMY AND ASTROLOGY AND ITS PRACTICAL APPLICATION IN MODERN ERA: A CASE STUDY

India also has a very long history of traditional science through the ages through its various epoch-making traditional scriptures. Major traditional scientific texts and scientific elements are composed directly or indirectly in the Sanskrit Language and are mostly related to ancient Indian Vedic literature. Among several branches of traditional Indian sciences, the most ancient branches are, in most cases, astronomy, medicine, etc. India also has a very long history of astronomical sciences (jyotiḥ-sāstra) and medicine (āyur-veda). Indian classical astronomical sciences are roughly divided into mathematical astronomy (gaṇita-jyotiṣa) and astrology (phalita-jyotiṣa). All these scriptures directly or indirectly influenced Indian culture and life. Even today Indian people are following the directions of these sacred texts. Here I would like to do a case study of the only hospital related to Indian Astrology and Astronomy. The name of the hospital is ‘Unique Sangeeta Memorial Hospital’ and it is dedicated to the service of mankind with a mixture of traditional Vedic Astrology and Astronomy and modern Medical knowledge.

A Comprehensive Study of Vaastu Shastra and Environmental Harmony

Vaastu Shastra, an ancient Indian science, does not deals with the architecture aspects alone, it also guides us to lead life in healthy atmosphere. Vastu Shastra, takes into account the environmental factors that influence the quality of our lives. It involves assessing all environmental influences that affect us, such as the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space), the sun, moon and the planets in our solar system. It highlights the importance of trees, flowers, birds, sound and artwork around us. Vaastu Shastra facilitate a harmonious relationship between human beings and the environment, which leads to sustainable development. Vaastu, also refers to the art and science of arranging objects with the goal of improving the flow of positive energy and preventing negative energy.

‘It’s nice that we can do that too’: investigating transgender persons' negotiations with identity and community questions in Indian science institutions

Abstract In 2014, the Indian Supreme Court passed the landmark NALSA v. Union of India judgment that not only granted transgender persons the right to self-identify their gender but also recognized their right to equitable and accessible education. Further, in 2018, the apex court passed another landmark judgment in the case of Navtej Singh Johar & Ors. v. Union of India, reading down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, and, therefore, decriminalizing consensual adult homosexual sex acts. In the backdrop of these landmark judgments – i.e. in post-NALSA and post-377 India – identity and community questions pertaining to transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary persons’ access to and presence in educational institutions in India have intensified. Focusing on science institutions, this paper attempts to delineate the ways in which proximal and distal networks of caste-class and gender shape transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary persons’ exclusion from and belonging in science collectivities. Further, this paper also investigates how transgender persons’ sense of belonging to certain communities speaks to their shifting epistemic dispositions. Finally, contextualizing transpersons’ negotiations in science communities and individual and collective scales as ‘unstable and hybrid assemblages’, this paper demonstrates the ways in which trans collectives in science institutions radicalize community building and development in these institutional spaces by interrupting dominant institutional cultures and practices.

CO-RELATION OF SUSHRUTOKTA NADI YANTRA AND MODERN SURGICAL INSTRUMENT: AN ANATOMICAL PERSPECTIVE

Ayurveda is the oldest medical system, and anatomy is one of the oldest modalities of the medical system. An-cient Indian scientists explored essential knowledge of practical anatomy. Neither in Sushruta nor in charak is there any indication of animal dissection; they perched about human dissection only, and the yantra used in it are also specially designed for human dissection only, which are now adapted by modern with different names. Dissection is the first milestone in the journey of being a doctor. Sushruta, the great sage surgeon, philosopher and teacher of ancient India, is renowned worldwide for his contribution to surgery. His conception of surgical instruments, description of quality, methods of manufacture and usage are unique, as there were no earlier com-prehensive descriptions of similar surgical instruments by any surgeon in India and the world. Sushruta was the first surgeon in the world to describe different types of surgical instruments, including endoscopes.