“The overwhelming majority of scientists say there can be no more coal mines if we’re to have any chance of a safe climate. Medical organisations increasingly recognise health risks, with the British Medical Journal describing climate change as “a health emergency'” – Dr Kate Charlesworth, Climate Councilor
Coal is a carbon-rich black rock that forms deep underground over thousands of years of heat and pressure and releases energy when burned. Coal remained a vital energy source for centuries, fueling industrial revolutions and powering economies worldwide. However, in an era where environmental concerns are at the forefront, the use of coal has become a topic of intense debate.
Coal combustion releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change. Coal-fired power plants also emit pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, contributing to air pollution and harming human health and the environment.
On the contrary, coal offers several advantages, such as its abundance, affordability, and reliability as a constant source of electricity. But its drawbacks, including detrimental environmental impacts, public health risks, and contributions to climate change, shouldn’t be taken for granted.
The dark saga of the present society’s dependence on fossil energy and the issue of peak oil and fossil fuel depletion.
Taming the dark flames of coal
Coal is the black flesh of the earth that makes up the spine of the world’s power grid. Together with oil, it accounts for over 60 per cent of all energy annually, which we use in daily life. In some senses, these two Dark Monarchs can be seen as the black soul of modern society.
The story of the dark twins and their role in the present actually started several centuries ago with the rise of mechanisation and industry. From here, the dark saga of the present society’s dependence on fossil energy and the issue of peak oil and fossil fuel depletion begins.
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to 19th century that saw significant changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining and transportation that profoundly impacted the socio-economic and cultural conditions worldwide.
The dawn of the Industrial Revolution marked a critical turning point in human history that influenced almost every aspect of daily life in some way. The most crucial event is undeniably the appearance of steam engines and the taming of the dark flames of coal.
Since then, our burning of fossil fuels has steadily increased. We now annually burn over 4,000 times the amount of fossil fuels burnt during 1776. Burning fossil fuels has far-reaching effects on our climate and ecosystems.
The concerns over the environmental impacts of coal have been rising over the years. Life holds more significant value than the energy resources to run it. Without life, and life of quality at that, abundance of energy makes no sense. But humankind has ruined the planet only to meet its energy requirements.
Among the chaos and voices rising worldwide, the future of the coal industry has been swinging like a pendulum. As if the technical, economic, and environmental factors are insufficient, now the political factor stands between its growth and decline.
Life holds more significant value than the energy resources to run it. Without life, and life of quality at that, abundance of energy makes no sense.
Coal consumption set to reach a new high
According to a new IEA report, global coal demand had increased only marginally in 2022 but was enough to push it to an all-time high amid the energy crisis. The world’s coal consumption is forecasted to remain unchanged in the following years without more robust measures to accelerate the transition to cleaner energy resources.
The same report reveals that global coal use had risen by 1.2% in 2022, surpassed 8 billion tonnes in one year for the first time and beat the previous record set in 2013. The report forecasts that coal consumption will remain flat at that level by 2025 due to its robust demand in emerging Asian economies.
According to economists and experts, coal will remain in the global energy system as the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions, even though a range of conflicting forces has shaken its markets.
Amid the global energy crisis, the higher natural gas prices are leading to increased reliance on coal for generating power, creating detrimental environmental impacts. China is the world’s largest coal consumer, where summer heat waves and drought are common. Still, China’s coal power generation has increased in recent years despite the Coronavirus pandemic that had slowed down demand in 2020.
“The world is close to a peak in fossil fuel use, with coal set to be the first to decline, but we are not there yet,” said Keisuke Sadamori, the IEA’s Director of Energy Markets and Security. “Coal demand is stubborn and will likely reach an all-time-high in coming years, pushing up global emissions.”
“At the same time, the energy crisis is accelerating the focus on renewables, energy efficiency and heat pumps. This will moderate coal demand in the coming years. Government policies will be key to ensuring a secure and sustainable path forward,” Sadamori added.
Pushing the World into darkness!
The saga of the Industrial Revolution and how fast it changed the world is a sunshine story about how human ingenuity and technology overcame previous limitations and allowed society to prosper.
However, that picture is unfair and fails to observe the shivering whispers of the black heart on everything, namely the energy that drove all machines and powered all the factories.
There is no other opinion that few of the machines would have worked without wielding suitable energy sources. Mechanisation during industrialisation significantly changed the way society observed and behaved. Engineers and scientists have invented numerous devices, processes and technologies that influence everyday life and provide abundant goods, merchandise and possibilities. There are many factors, reasons and explanations for all that happened during the Industrial Revolution.
Still, we can not shut the voices raising their concern about over-dependence on carbon as an energy resource, eventually darkening the planet. Despite the knowledge about how it contributes to climate change, coal combustion still accounts for 40 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions from energy use. To achieve the Paris Agreement Climate Goals, worldwide power sectors should stop using coal without carbon capture and storage by approximately 2050.
According to climate experts, focusing on coal combustion’s environmental and health-related externalities may not be sufficient to phase out coal. Instead, it will be crucial to see the coal phase-out as fair and legal and that the process accords with political realities.
Policymakers should understand in more detail who will be impacted by a transition away from coal. How societal groups can be effectively compensated, and how powerful vested interests can be counterbalanced.
Cyber-attacks are no longer science fiction; they are a stark reality threatening our digital way of life. Digitalization through technology is virtually taking hold of all growth ladders worldwide. Even in Pakistan, from remote jobs to Siemens’ controllers modulating electricity generation, Nadra NIC identification, cloud infrastructure, money transactions, etc.
Every organization in the professional world has to transfer their data to technology, giving access to all the confidential and vital information of every individual. This is how the growth of digitalization comes with an increment of risk of data breach by a third intruder known as a cyber-attack.
And this is how cybersecurity and digitalization go hand in hand.
“We apologise for the inappropriate messages sent through Bykea. We can confirm that this was a third-party communication tool which got compromised,” 1:21 AM. JUN 13, 2023_Bykea app.
Recent News of a security intrusion in the Bykea app has caused panic among its users. Such security issues, even when resolved, leave a lasting impression of mistrust among the people. As a result, many Pakistanis, including myself, have refrained from using the Bykea app for an extended period, taking extra precautions to avoid being hacked.
Consequently, Bykea experienced hindered progress in its operations, with a decline in its number of users and financial losses for the company. Not only apps like Bykea are vulnerable to third parties, but the economy, reliability, or government-related database services are also in great danger.
Criminal Cyber-attacks are primarily intended to steal financial assets by stealing data, disrupting business, manipulating confidential data or simply selling on the dark web for dark money.
THE HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF CYBER-ATTACKS
The intrusion in the Bykea app is not the first cyber-attack in history; the evolution of cyber-attacks began in the late 1960s. The very first attack was taken into account when Leonard Kleinrock, a renowned professor of UCLA on the mission of ARPANET (the world’s first network connection built on October 29, 1969), sent a message “LOGIN” to Stanford Research Institute in the essence of the first digital message sent in the history but to the astonishment the system crashed delivering only first two letters “LO”.
The second cyberattack was observed in the face of the first virus, CREEPER, created by Robert Thomas in 1970. The virus used to print a message stating “I’m the Creeper: catch me if you can” in the network. However, in 1971, its anti-virus REAPER was created. Cyber-attacks grew and grew larger; their roots expanded from an error message, invading the systems and stealing useful, confidential information in the war.
Cyber Attacks are mainly observed in three types. Criminal Cyber-attacks are primarily intended to steal financial assets by stealing data, disrupting business, manipulating confidential data or simply selling on the dark web for dark money. Whereas Political and Personal cyberattacks are more focused on seeking personal enmities or personal desires.
Whether or not cyber-attacks can be used relatively is a debated topic. Some argue that cyber-attacks can be used within ethical boundaries as a valuable tool for the defence system. At the same time, the potential for collateral damage and violation of privacy makes the word “fair” in the context of cyber-attacks challenging.
PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES OF INFORMATION SECURITY
The important frameworks to understand the implementation of cybersecurity measures are mainly divided into 3 goals: CIA or, conversely, AIC.
Confidentiality is the process of coding the data from one system to another. This way, if the data transferred from System A to B by any change gets hacked, the intruder cannot access the coded/ encrypted data until he has the key to decode/decrypt like System B. Hence, the data will be secured and confidential.
Integrity: It refers to refraining from data breaches like in the case of a 1969 message sent by a professor at UCLA, where the “login” message was modified by a third party as “Lo”. It is the second main goal of cybersecurity to maintain the accuracy and trustworthiness of data.
Availability: The availability module assures that the Data is available 24/7 to the concerned authority. Otherwise, the websites crash or heavy load on the server become a vulnerable threat to the security system as it is more feasible for attackers to attack heavy traffic on the networks; such types of attacks are known as DDoS attacks, where attackers can exploit the data regardless of the traffic level.
INSIGHTS BY CYBER SECURITY EXPERTS
I have collected a few insights from cyber security experts to get you an idea of how Cyber-Attacks are evolving drastically. Based on published reports by (the Department Of Homeland Security 2014, Sebastian Bortnik 2012, APWG 2013, An Osterman Research Paper 2015), and a conference held in the USA (Cybersecurity Standford, CA, 2014), It was recognized that clever cyber criminals might be capable of launching attacks that can harm the reliability, accessibility, or confidentiality of cyber services or government-related database services.
In addition to this, in 2014, it was informed by the APWG (Phishing Activity Trends Report) that confidential as well as essential data of Pakistan started to get hacked by accessing such websites. Another discussion by the dignitaries of the delegation states that about $445 billion is lost annually due to cyber-crimes in online security.
“Attack graphs provide a powerful visualization of potential attack paths, helping us understand complex security vulnerabilities in interconnected systems.”– Dorothy Denning, Cybersecurity Pioneer. (Source: Denning, D. “Graph-Based Intrusion Analysis.” Proceedings of the 2001 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy)
AN ESSENTIAL TOOL OF CYBERSECURITY: ATTACK GRAPHS
In today’s interconnected digital landscape, the interaction of complex systems or simple embedded systems and elements with the environment can sometimes become challenging to manage. This can lead to uncertain or unexpected system behaviours.
Such situations are often referred to as system execution or run. Sometimes, these executions lead to adverse effects known as failure scenarios. These failure scenarios then trespass specific correctness rules defined for the system. If the cause of the failure scenario is not a typical malfunction of the system but a foreign intrusion, it is an Attack Graph.
Under the surface, the attack graphs were initially known to be finite automata called state enumeration graphs in the early ages. After that, the definition was refined by AND/OR graphs, called exploit dependency, and later generalised as a particular case of Bayesian networks called Bayesian attack. Therefore, various definitions of attack graphs are cycling in today’s era, engulfing novices with difficulties in understanding this field of study.
The first-ever concept of an attack graph was put forth by Phillips and Swiler in 1998. An Attack Graph is a specific type of model used to specify the behaviour and potential problems in managing the computer systems. It discloses the vulnerable points in a system that could be exposed to the intruder. It holds a significant position as a crucial tool in cybersecurity, which unleashes the critical and vulnerable points in the system that might be exposed to hackers.
By mapping out vulnerabilities and identifying potential exploitations by third parties, security analysts can effectively defend against and address the most critical vulnerabilities in the system. This proactive approach helps safeguard organizations with large amounts of data from intrusion and misuse. Given the prevailing security issues in Pakistan, this subject holds great importance.
Understanding Attack Paths Through An Example
Think of an attack graph as a map showing how a hacker might move through different nodes, essentially machines or devices in a network, to exploit weaknesses and gain unauthorized access. To illustrate, let’s delve into an example involving three machines: A, B, and C.
Machines B and C play respectively as a web server (a system that delivers web content like websites) and database (which stores and manages the data). The network’s firewall allows HTTP and SSH requests from machines A to B. HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) and SSH (Secure Shell) help to connect the client’s request to the server. Normally, a user on machine A will make an HTTP request on machine B, which will then go through the database on machine C.
However, if the direct access from machine A to C is blocked by the firewall, any SSH request from machine A to C will be considered blocked. This indicates an attacker’s intrusion who successfully launched a command injection attack on the web server (machine B), gaining a foothold and later further exploiting a vulnerability in the database server in machine C; he will perform a SQL injection attack (Structured Query Language) which involves accessing and manipulating the data through coding. In this way, the intruder will gain access to the restricted data.
To Conclude the example, if an attacker compromises a web server (machine B) and then exploits a database server (machine C), they could gain access to restricted data.
An Overview of the Operation Of An Attack Graph
The reason behind categorizing an Attack Graph as a Graph is generally because it encloses the relationship between two entities, like any other graph, through interconnected nodes.
Creating attack graphs involves:
Identifying potential attack paths: This initial step involves identifying all the possible ways an attacker can avail throughout the network.
Analyzing vulnerabilities: In the second phase, any possible entry point that could attract the intruder is firmly studied and examined.
Establishing attack templates: Through attack vectors and tactics, attack templates are created to enhance the clarity of each node by managing data in an organized way.
Constructing the graph itself: Lastly, a graph is created with nodes and edges specifying the network and vulnerable points, respectively.
Various other tools can be used to generate these graphs. Once created, they assess network vulnerabilities, predict attack paths, and identify weak points that need reinforcement.
CHALLENGES FACED BY ATTACK GRAPHS
Attack Graphs can be challenging to handle on a larger scale. Attack graphs can become large and complex in an extensive network, making them difficult to manage. Also, dynamic changes in networks and devices make traditional analysis methods less effective.
Researchers use intelligent agents and algorithms to streamline graph creation and analysis to address these issues. One promising approach involves simplifying attack graphs using the A* prune algorithm. Moreover, modern techniques like the Random Forest algorithm help predict and identify attack locations, improving the effectiveness of the cyber defence.
In the context of IoT (Internet of Things) technology, where various devices are interconnected, challenges arise due to diverse devices, rapid changes, and specific communication protocols. Attack graphs need to consider these factors to model vulnerabilities accurately.
TO CONCLUDE ON THE ESSENCE OF CYBER CRIMES IN PAKISTAN
Pakistan faces a shortage of skilled security analysts. Despite a considerable number of doctors, teachers, writers, and business professionals, the field of cybersecurity lacks expertise. According to FIA (Federal Investigation Agency), Pakistan can bear such attacks due to the lack of cybersecurity expertise. Raising awareness about cyber threats and tools like attack graphs in cybersecurity is essential for securing our nation.
Attack graphs are handy because they highlight how vulnerabilities spread. When one node is compromised, nearby nodes become susceptible, forming a chain reaction. By analyzing these graphs, security experts can pinpoint areas that need strengthening and design strategies to mitigate potential threats.
Currently, there is a lack of awareness among many people in Pakistan regarding these vital aspects of cybersecurity. If Pakistan invests in nurturing security analysts and cybersecurity professionals, it can significantly enhance the protection of its prominent organizations.
Looking to the future, as technology advances and threats evolve, understanding and using attack graphs becomes vital. Organizations can proactively defend their systems by predicting and analyzing potential attack paths. As researchers continue to refine and simplify these techniques, they enable a more secure digital future.
In today’s world, we are surrounded by the comforts and advancements technology has brought us. However, amidst these luxuries, a fundamental aspect often goes overlooked – our exposure to natural light.
Enclosed buildings and apartments, with limited sunlight penetration, have become a norm of modern architecture. However, this shift in the modern lifestyle has given rise to an alarming situation of increased depression and sadness cases. This article significantly explores the biological correlation between limited light (sunlight) exposure and the resulting mental health problems, as it correlates to depression.
Lack of Sunlight and Seasonal Affective Disorder ‘SAD’. Photo Gulle Lalah
Sunlight Exposure and Mental Health
Several studies have revealed an association between limited sunlight exposure in routine life and its long-term impact on mood, particularly in developing depression.
A survey was conducted to study the effects of sunlight duration on the incidence rate of depression in China. It was found that little exposure to natural light indeed poses a greater risk of developing depression. Therefore, awareness campaigns should propagate the importance of sunlight to the general public (Ji et al., 2023).
The role of sunlight in preventing depression is evident through the example of ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’ (SAD), characterized by depressive episodes in winter and a happy mood in the spring and summer when more exposure to sunlight is available. This suggests that natural light exposure indeed impacts the circadian rhythms in a way that leads to depression (Komulainen et al., 2023).
Research has revealed the role of ambient temperatures and sunlight exposure on suicide incidence cases (Gao et al., 2019). Similarly, a study recruiting participants from Greece, Victoria, Australia, and Norway showed a positive association between increased duration of sunlight exposure and reduced rate of depression and suicide cases (White et al., 2015).
Participant Based Studies
The effect of sunlight exposure on mental health was studied, with over 780 Operating Room Nurses (ORNs) from hospitals in China. ORNs are exposed to a low dose of daily sunlight as part of their work routine and the environment. It was revealed that this lifestyle had significantly impacted the sleep cycles and mental health among ORNs, suggesting a need for new policies to avoid such work environments where limited light exposure may lead to mental health problems (Wang et al., 2023).
Similarly, a case-control study, including over 1800 Finnish participants, explored the impact of limited sunlight exposure for 1 year. This controlled environment exposure was then followed by an analysis of results, which suggested a strong link between limited sunlight exposure and the development of specific depressive cases (Komulainen et al., 2023).
Scientific Explanation of Sunlight Linking with Mood Swings
Although studies from different populations have established a strong correlation between daily sunlight exposure and the prevention of depression, there is a need to dig deeper into the scientific and biological explanation of this phenomenon.
According to different research studies, there are three main mechanisms which may be involved in ameliorating the risk of depression under healthy sunlight exposure:
Sunlight Impacts Mood through Vitamin D
This might be new to know that vitamin D is not only a bone mineral but also helps to regulate the happy hormones in our body, i.e., serotonin and dopamine. A study by Spedding (2014) found the favourable management of depression through daily vitamin D supplementation, acting as an anti-depressant.
However, dependence on vitamin D supplementation instead of natural sunlight exposure may lead to heart problems and risk to other health conditions (Razzaque, 2018). It has been shown that outdoor activities and sunbathing can help to increase the blood’s 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and significantly improve mental health (Taniguchi et al., 2022).
Vitamin D Production Under Sunlight. Photo Gulle Lalah
Sunlight and the Serotonin Synthesis Pathway
Sunlight exposure stimulates the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter (brain chemical) associated with mood and sleep cycle. Extended periods spent indoors or in areas with limited light can lead to decreased serotonin levels, potentially contributing to feelings of sadness and depression.
Disrupting the serotonin synthesis pathway due to limited sunlight exposure can significantly affect mental health. How sunlight regulates the serotonin pathway is quite an interesting mechanism.
When we are exposed to sunlight, our eyes have specific photoreceptors (light receptors) that absorb the blue light wavelength. This signals the brain to make serotonin (Azmitia, 2020). Today, bright light is used as a therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder ‘SAD’. This therapy also works by enhancing the levels of serotonin in the brain (Bilu et al., 2020; Maruani & Geoffroy, 2019).
Happy Hormone ‘Serotonin’ under the influence of Sunlight. Photo Gulle Lalah.
Melatonin Synthesis Pathways
We are all familiar with the suntan we get from outdoors on a bright sunny day and how we want to avoid it by staying indoors. However, this very suntan may be your saviour from depression. Biologically, the sleep cycle (circadian rhythms) and moods are related to the secretion of a hormone called melatonin by the brain’s pineal gland.
This happens during the night, so melatonin induces sleepiness and helps to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. This melatonin comes from the chemical conversion of melanin (the skin pigment from sun exposure). Insufficient sunlight exposure disrupts melatonin synthesis, leading to irregular sleep patterns and an increased risk of mood disorders, including depression. (Havaki-Kontaxaki, 2010)
Sunlight and Healthy Sleep-Wake Cycle Regulation by ‘Melatonin’. Photo Gulle Lalah
Concluding Remarks
Understanding the relationship between limited sunlight exposure and mental health may enable individuals to take proactive steps in preventing conditions such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), mood swings, and depression. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to adopt an indoor lifestyle, leading to several depressive and anxiety cases.
The post-COVID time should promote a healthy living style with enhanced and healthy daily dosage of sunlight exposure to promote mental well-being. This can be done by incorporating healthy habits into our busy schedules, e.g., taking frequent outdoor breaks, walking, or spending time in well-lit areas and planning family trips and outings in a more natural outdoor resort (Taniguchi et al., 2022). Embracing sunlight and inviting the positive influence of nature into our lives can illuminate a path towards a happier and healthier future.
“Mental health needs more sunlight, candour, and unashamed conversation.”
– Glenn Close
References:
Ji, Y., Chen, C., Xu, G., Song, J., Su, H., & Wang, H. (2023). Effects of sunshine duration on daily outpatient visits for depression in Suzhou, Anhui Province, China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(1), 2075-2085.
Wang, J., Wei, Z., Yao, N., Li, C., & Sun, L. (2023). Association Between Sunlight Exposure and Mental Health: Evidence from a Special Population Without Sunlight in Work. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 1049-1057.
Komulainen, K., Hakulinen, C., Lipsanen, J., Partonen, T., Pulkki-Råback, L., Kähönen, M., … & Elovainio, M. (2022). Associations of long-term solar insolation with specific depressive symptoms: Evidence from a prospective cohort study. Journal of psychiatric research, 151, 606-610.
Taniguchi, K., Takano, M., Tobari, Y., Hayano, M., Nakajima, S., Mimura, M., … & Noda, Y. (2022). Influence of external natural environment including sunshine exposure on public mental health: a systematic review. Psychiatry International, 3(1), 91-113.
Bilu, C., Einat, H., Zimmet, P., Vishnevskia-Dai, V., & Kronfeld-Schor, N. (2020). Beneficial effects of daytime high-intensity light exposure on daily rhythms, metabolic state and affect. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 19782.
Azmitia, E. C. (2020). Evolution of serotonin: sunlight to suicide. In Handbook of Behavioural Neuroscience (Vol. 31, pp. 3-22). Elsevier.
Maruani, J., & Geoffroy, P. A. (2019). Bright light as a personalized precision treatment of mood disorders. Frontiers in psychiatry, 10, 85.
Gao, J., Cheng, Q., Duan, J., Xu, Z., Bai, L., Zhang, Y., … & Su, H. (2019). Ambient temperature, sunlight duration, and suicide: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Science of the total environment, 646, 1021–1029.
Razzaque, M. S. (2018). Sunlight exposure: Do health benefits outweigh harm? The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology, 175, 44-48.
White, R. A., Azrael, D., Papadopoulos, F. C., Lambert, G. W., & Miller, M. (2015). Does suicide have a stronger association with seasonality than sunlight? BMJ open, 5(6), e007403.
Spedding, S. (2014). Vitamin D and depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing studies with and without biological flaws. Nutrients, 6(4), 1501–1518.
Havaki-Kontaxaki, B. J., Papalias, E., Kontaxaki, M. E., & Papadimitriou, G. N. (2010). Seasonality, suicidality and melatonin. Psychiatrike, 21(4), 324-331.
Kent, S. T., McClure, L. A., Crosson, W. L., Arnett, D. K., Wadley, V. G., & Sathiakumar, N. (2009). Effect of sunlight exposure on cognitive function among depressed and non-depressed participants: a REGARDS cross-sectional study. Environmental Health, 8(1), 1-14.
Epidemiology studies the determinants, dynamics, and distribution of diseases in populations. Countries worldwide now focus on additional support to strengthen public health systems to detect and respond to outbreaks efficiently.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that field epidemiologists are essential for providing decision-makers with information to develop effective health interventions. The global health community voices the need for more investment in training and research in this area.
The Ministry of National Health Services Pakistan, in collaboration with the Center for Diseases Control U.S., executes and imparts a comprehensive epidemiology training program as an advanced two-year and a three-month frontline course with a focus on building a skilled workforce of epidemiologists and public health professionals, equipped to address the evolving health challenges for a resilient healthcare system in Pakistan.
Dr Nadia Noreen is a medical doctor and public health specialist with an MBBS, MPH, and MSc in Epidemiology, a graduate of the 2-year advanced postgraduate Pakistan Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP), and pursuing a Doctorate (PhD) in Public Health. She is also a member of the Training Programs in Field Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET), the global network of field epidemiology training programs building a workforce to protect all people from public health threats.
Nadia currently works as the technical lead/focal person for International Health Regulations (IHR) for Border Health Services (BHS), a Department of the National Ministry of Health in Pakistan. BHS is responsible for implementing IHR and the cross-border spread of disease across the Points of Entry in Pakistan.
Seaports serve as vital hubs of trade, commerce, and international connectivity, so we must continue to provide our border health personnel with excellent training to have the necessary skills to conduct surveillance appropriately and manage risks effectively.
Her journey blends the power of resilience and the beauty of selfless love. Nadia is a born struggler, facing life’s challenges with steadfast determination, strength, and compassion. The loss of her father during the early days of medical school was undoubtedly a dismaying moment, but she made a conscious decision not to let adversity define her. Instead, Nadia emerged as a source of strength for her family, particularly for her beloved mother, who is her whole world.
Below are a few excerpts from her recent conversation with Scientia Pakistan’s Chief Editor, Saadeqa Khan.
In Pakistan, among limited available opportunities, FELTP training is a unique and excellent opportunity for persons interested in public health and epidemiology to continue their education and training. Photo Dr Nadia
Saadeqa: Field epidemiology is primarily considered a male-dominant field in Pakistan. How do you overcome obstacles and hurdles you face?
Dr Nadia: As a graduate of FELTP Pakistan, I proudly acknowledge the strengths, skills, and knowledge gained through the FELTP training without any gender discrimination. FELTP Pakistan provides equal career advancement opportunities based on merit rather than gender. In Pakistan, among limited available opportunities, FELTP training is a unique and excellent opportunity for persons interested in public health and epidemiology to continue their education and training.
Pakistan FETLP is modeled after the U.S. Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) and has a unique, applied training approach focusing on “learning by doing”. FETP trainees (also known as residents, fellows, or officers) spend 75-80% of their time maximizing hands-on training in the field and only a limited but quality time in the classroom.
Classroom time is spent learning the principles of epidemiology, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and biostatistics.
Field placements give fellows hands-on experience investigating outbreaks, establishing and evaluating disease surveillance systems, designing and conducting public health studies, and training other healthcare workers.
To date, TEPHINET, with the support of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has trained more than 23,000 disease detectives to build disease outbreak and response capacity in more than 80 countries, including 286 field epidemiologists from 2-Year Advanced FETP and 338 from short course Frontline in Pakistan.
Working as a field epidemiologist in Pakistan has been a pleasant and positive experience. My journey as an epidemiologist involved in frontline response and emergency preparedness is a testament to my training, areas of expertise, and commitment to public health and saving lives. By excelling in this field, I have paved the way for many other females and inspired them to pursue careers in epidemiology and public health.
Saadeqa: Pakistan’s FELTP has made significant strides in promoting gender equity. Would you like to brief us about it? How did you contribute to their efforts?
Dr Nadia: FELTP Pakistan provides equal opportunities for training irrespective of gender based on a competitive selection screening process and accepts the most qualified candidates. Diversity inclusion is a priority in the selection of fellows and program officers.
Women and minority group representation in Pak-FELTP has been emphasized to ensure a workforce more closely resembles Pakistan’s population distribution. There are 42 female graduates (accounting for 20% of the total graduates), and nine female fellows are currently enrolled in the program.
Saadeqa: Where did you get the idea of the Training of Trainers (TOT) capacity-building workshop for Seaport workers? What were the objectives?
Dr. Nadia: The primary objective of the workshop was to equip participants with the skills, knowledge, strategies, and competencies required to serve as effective trainers of other seaport personnel, build workforce capacities, and improve surveillance systems at the Points of Entry in compliance with IHR to enhance global health security.
Seaports serve as vital hubs of trade, commerce, and international connectivity. However, they also present unique challenges regarding health security and preventing and managing potential outbreaks. The importance of surveillance at these entry points increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the potential for rapid disease spread and increased risks associated with potential trade restrictions.
In my capacity as a subject matter expert and the technical lead/focal person for International Health Regulations (IHR) for Border Health Services (BHS), which is a Department of the National Ministry of Health in Pakistan, it is a routine part of my responsibilities to build workforce capacity and train BHS staff to improve surveillance and disease detection and response at Pakistan’s Points of Entry (POEs).
I have designed several capacity-building sessions in the past at various POEs with the support of partner organizations to strengthen core capacities at POEs and improve emergency response. In the spirit of progress and innovation, these initial pilot TOT served as bridges connecting potential to proficiency. I intend to extend this learning experience to all Points of Entry (POEs) for workforce development.
“My journey as an epidemiologist involved in frontline response and emergency preparedness is a testament to my training, areas of expertise, and commitment to public health and saving lives.” ~ Dr Nadia Jamil Qureshi
Saadeqa: What was the experience of these workshops, and what are the outcomes?
Dr Nadia: Conducting TOT workshops to strengthen core disease detection and response capacities at seaports has been a wonderful experience and has tremendously impacted how we conduct surveillance and manage risks at points of entry in Pakistan.
Seaports serve as vital hubs of trade, commerce, and international connectivity, so we must continue to provide our border health personnel with excellent training to have the necessary skills to conduct surveillance appropriately and manage risks effectively.
The target audience for these TOT sessions includes staff from different sectors working in coordination at all the seaports. The TOT workshop served as a platform for exchanging knowledge and best practices and allowed participants to gain valuable insights and learn from each other’s experiences.
The skills gained from this pilot workshop will help to accelerate emergency response and nurture a culture of continuous improvement that will safeguard public health within Pakistan’s seaports and contribute to a safer, healthier global community.
The most wonderful outcome of these workshops is the sense of empowerment, ownership, belonging, and confidence instilled in the participants and the belief that together we can make a difference in health outcomes.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a test case for many sectors, particularly the public health sector, and increased the need for trained and skilled human resources to manage the pandemic on the frontlines.
Saadeqa: SEAPORT entry points in Pakistan are mostly bypassed regarding healthcare facilities. How did you train seaport workers and health personnel to manage an outbreak response at seaports and ship sanitation operations?
Dr Nadia: Cross-border health threats represent a considerable challenge to both developed and underdeveloped countries. Therefore, the practical application of health measures at points of entry is essential to prevent the spread of disease across borders.
Pakistan has designated and maintained core capacities at 18 Points of Entry. The capacity required at all times for the point of entry is developed but not sustained due to logistics and human resource constraints.
Pakistan has three international seaports, namely the Port of Karachi, Bin Qasim, and Gawadar, which are the designated seaports as per the IHR list of authorized ports to issue Ship Sanitation Certificates along with developed referral systems/ linkages with tertiary care facilities.
The training content for the workshops was crafted and adopted from the latest updated guidelines of WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with detailed, comprehensive learning of IHR, Global Health Security (GHS), and ship sanitation adopted from Guide to Ship Sanitation Third Edition by WHO, CDC Vessel sanitation programme, CDC maritime guidance, Vector and reservoir control program, public health events on board ships management handbook by WHO.
My writing and computer skills acquired through FELTP training enabled me to develop comprehensive training materials like presentations, case studies, and flip charts.
Saadeqa: I read a fascinating story of two female crane operators working at Karachi Sea Port. You visited there: are you pleased with the working environment there for females?
Dr Nadia: Seaports are hubs of ceaseless activity, diversity, and ingenuity. My visits to seaports have always been enjoyable as the work environment for females is very supportive. For example, a female medical officer has been serving as a port Health officer for over the years. Likewise, my experience at seaports in a leadership role for over three years has been enriching. An environment emphasizing skills, knowledge, and collaboration supports it.
This environment keeps us focused on the work rather than gender and creates a brighter, healthier, safer, and more prosperous future for all of us on the frontline of public health.
Saadeqa: What strategies should we implement to increase gender inequity in such places?
Dr Nadia: The working environment for females in all places and walks of life must be safe, inclusive, and free from discrimination. Employers and organizations must ensure that female workers have equal opportunities, access to training and career development, and are treated with respect and fairness.
Promoting gender diversity in the workplace benefits individual women and contributes to the overall success and innovation of organizations. Encouraging more women to pursue careers in non-traditional fields is a step in the right direction towards achieving gender equality and creating inclusive work environments.
It’s a powerful testament to the importance of family and parents nurturing their children’s dreams and aspirations. Photo Dr Nadia/ CDC, U.S.
Saadeqa: Is there anything else of public interest I missed that you can add about your or FELTP’s efforts to promote gender and health equity in Pakistan?
Dr. Nadia: First, I want to express my profound acknowledgement of my mother’s selflessness, dedication, and support that have shaped my life. I want to pay a heartfelt tribute to the sacrifices she has made, the encouragement she has provided, and the prayers she has offered for my well-being and success.
It’s a powerful testament to the importance of family and parents nurturing their children’s dreams and aspirations. It’s a reminder that behind every success story is often the enduring dedication, motivation, and prayers of a loving parent. My father in heaven and my mother in my home are my real heroes.
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely acknowledge and express my heartfelt gratitude to the exceptional teachers and mentors at FELTP who have played a pivotal role in shaping my drive for continuous learning and skill development.
I am also deeply appreciative and pay profound gratitude to my competent authorities at the National Health Ministry and headquarters, whose commitment to fostering an enabling and inclusive environment has been instrumental in my professional journey.
Their dedication to creating a workspace where everyone, regardless of background or identity, can thrive, contribute, and flourish is commendable. Within this nurturing environment, I have found the inspiration to excel and support others in reaching new heights.
As I move forward, I carry the invaluable lessons, mentorship, and supportive framework my teachers, mentors, and competent authorities provide. With their continued guidance and the foundation they have laid, I am empowered to embrace challenges and opportunities and contribute positively to my field and beyond.
A profound “take-home” lesson I have learned throughout these years of continuous response and engagement is that health security knows no boundaries, and the collaborative strength of diverse voices leads us to a safer, healthier world.
Acknowledgement:
The said piece of TOT was done with the support of Jhpiego- an affiliate of John Hopkins University, under the patronage of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordinations.
Recently, over 10,000 conjunctivitis incidents have been reported in Punjab alone, and it’s still increasing. At the same time, the metropolis of Karachi is also at risk for the outbreak despite decreasing cases lately. Within a few weeks, due to a conjunctivitis outbreak in Punjab, schools were closed for a few days to prevent transmission.
With an increasing outbreak in different regions of Pakistan and some at risk, it’s better to know about this disease and how to protect ourselves and others from it.
What is Conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis, or “Pink Eye”, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva (the outer transparent layer of your eye and inner linings of your eyelids), with dilated blood vessels infiltrating white blood cells into the conjunctiva and removing foreign particles. The disease may result in swelling of conjunctiva and eyelids, accumulating water inside your tissue (known as edema). Also, the eye redness is due to dilated blood vessels and the pain from this inflammation.
What causes Conjunctivitis?
It can be caused by infection (such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites) or by non-infection means (through reactions with allergens, toxins, or a deregulated immune system).
The disease becomes complicated to diagnose, whether direct or indirect, based on its aetiology. For instance, Gnorrhoea, a sexually transmitted disease, can develop Conjunctivitis, apart from other organ complications.
Among all these causes, viral Conjunctivitis is the most common globally.
Viral Conjunctivitis
The virus infection accounts for a significant fraction of all cases related to eye diseases. Adenovirus (AdV) is the most common among many pathogens, with around 90% of all viral eye infection cases.
Adenovirus
The species is classified into seven (A to G), comprising more than 100 strains. The virus is a 90 – 100 nm, non-enveloped nucleocapsid embedded inside with double-stranded DNA of 35k base pairs. Among the seven, D is known to have many strains causing Conjunctivitis, with AdV-D8, D19, and D37 found to be abundant among overall AdV conjunctivital cases.
At present, no specific treatment for Conjunctivitis has been developed.
How is it transmitted?
AdV conjunctivitis is commonly spread by interacting with infected individuals. The fluid exposed by the patient, due to frequent eye rubbing can affect your eyes if exposed. Also, improper hygiene practices and improper chlorination of swimming pools can transmit the illness as well.
Diagnosis
Several interpretations were made to distinguish bacterial and viral Conjunctivitis. However, most symptoms overlap, and it becomes hard to deduce the cause based on physical examination. Specific lab tests, like microbial culture, can detect the bacterial cause and see the viral reason, Real-Time PCR with 94% specificity and 89% sensitivity.
Current Treatment
At present, no specific treatment has been developed. However, published studies directed to finding the AdV conjunctivitis treatments were based on lab culture. Fortunately, most cases are non-severe and take around a week or two to get cured.
Also, based on public health experts’ recommendations, avoid taking unprescribed medication alone. To seek an emergency, visit a healthcare institute and make an appointment. Make sure to take a leave from your work and have rest.
Preventions
Even if you get through with it, there might be a risk of drawbacks, affecting your eyes for an extended period. It’s better to take preventive measures, protecting your eyes and your loved ones.
Make a habit of hand-washing frequently, and if you interact with an infected individual, keep your distance from them and avoid making physical contact, even handshakes. If you did, wash your hands and avoid rubbing your eyes unless cleaned.
Furthermore, wipe exposed surfaces or disinfect surfaces in healthcare institutes. The virus, being non-enveloped, is stabilized on the surface for an average of three weeks. And ensure properly chlorinated swimming pools.
And yes, if you are still reading this article, protect yourself and your family from the current outbreak of Conjunctivitis.
Note: Mohammad Irtaza Tafheem wrote this piece in collaboration with Dr. Muhammad Hamza Khan.
ABOUT THE COLLABORATOR: Dr. Muhammad Hamza Khan, currently a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, is a Surgical Skills Faculty of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists. He has over nine years of experience interacting with eye patients and presenting at conferences worldwide.
REFERENCES:
Azari, A. A., & Arabi, A. (2020). Conjunctivitis: a systematic review. Journal of ophthalmic & visionresearch, 15(3), 372.
Azari, A. A., & Barney, N. P. (2013). Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment. Jama,310(16), 1721-1730.
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Scientia Pakistan is a community partner of this year’s highly anticipated Science Journalism Forum 2023 (SJF23)!
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the scientific discovery process by enabling the combination of data and theory to derive meaningful and accurate models of natural phenomena. One powerful approach to this integration is AI-Descartes, a method that combines logical reasoning with symbolic regression. By leveraging the strengths of both techniques, AI-Descartes allows scientists to derive scientific laws and formulas that are not only empirically accurate but also consistent with prior knowledge expressed through logical axioms.
René Descartes: A Renaissance Man
René Descartes, a prominent figure of the Renaissance, made significant contributions to philosophy, mathematics, and science. He possessed many skills and knowledge, making him a true polymath. Descartes’ philosophy placed great importance on rationality and logical reasoning, which laid the foundation for his famous statement, “I think, therefore I am.”
This idea was instrumental in shaping the notion of a machine mind distinct from its physical form, a key concept in AI.
During the 17th century in France, Descartes played a crucial role in developing artificial intelligence by introducing the concept of dualism. According to Descartes, the mind and body are separate entities that are interconnected. He believed it was possible to mentally separate these “substances,” such as the mind, from the physical body. This idea was instrumental in shaping the notion of a machine mind distinct from its physical form, a key concept in AI.
Descartes also viewed animals as “automata,” or self-moving machines, following predetermined instructions like programmed machines do today. He applied his theories practically by improving clock designs and constructing robot-like machines, effectively bridging the gap between philosophy and technology. This foresight demonstrated his understanding of the potential relationship between humans and machines.
By leveraging the strengths of both techniques, AI-Descartes allows scientists to derive scientific laws and formulas that are not only empirically accurate but also consistent with prior knowledge expressed through logical axioms.
The Power of Symbolic Regression
Artificial neural networks (NN) and statistical regression are commonly used to discover patterns and relationships in data. Neural networks provide “black-box” models focusing on prediction, while regression models require a predetermined functional form and concentrate on parameter fitting.
Symbolic regression (SR) offers a different approach by allowing the functional form to be composed from a given set of operators and calculated from the data. SR models are often more interpretable than NN models and require less data, making them suitable for discovering laws of nature from experimental data.
The Challenge of Model Derivability
While SR can generate models that fit the data, identifying scientifically meaningful models consistent with prior knowledge is the challenge. Previous approaches have focused on balancing accuracy and complexity, but they must guarantee consistency with known background theories.
The problem becomes more complicated when logical axioms are involved, and automated theorem provers need help to generate theorems consistent with experimental data from a set of known assumptions.
Introducing AI-Descartes: Combining Reasoning and Symbolic Regression
AI-Descartes has been developed to address the challenge of derivable scientific discovery. AI-Descartes combines logical reasoning with symbolic regression to enable principled derivations of models of natural phenomena from axiomatic knowledge and experimental data. This approach integrates statistical and symbolic AI techniques to synthesize models that are both data-driven and based on first principles.
The Discovery Process
The AI-Descartes system follows a discovery cycle inspired by Descartes’ scientific method. Rather than starting with hypotheses derived from theory and testing them against data, AI-Descartes generates and assesses them against known background theories. The system consists of two main modules: the symbolic regression (SR) and reasoning modules.
The SR module outputs a set of candidate formulas that fit the data but may not be derivable from the background theory.
The SR module takes as input a set of operators, a grammar, and constraints on the functional form. It uses mixed integer nonlinear programming to find an expression that minimizes the least-square error between the model and the data. The SR module outputs a set of candidate formulas that fit the data but may not be derivable from the background theory.
The reasoning module is responsible for assessing the derivability of the candidate formulas. It takes the background theory and the candidate formulas as input and uses automated theorem provers and deductive reasoning to determine whether a formula is derivable. If a formula is derivable, it is returned as the chosen model for prediction. If none of the candidate formulas are derivable, the reasoning module provides a quality assessment based on the distance between the formulas and the background theory.
Experimental Validation
The AI-Descartes system has been tested on three problems to validate its capabilities.
The first problem involves deriving Kepler’s third law of planetary motion from solar system data and background theory. The system rediscovered Kepler’s third law, demonstrating its ability to extract meaningful formulas from data and logical reasoning.
The second problem focuses on Einstein’s relativistic time-dilation formula. While the system did not recover the formula from the data, it helped identify the formula that best generalizes it. The system could determine the theory that better explains the phenomenon by analyzing the reasoning errors with different sets of axioms.
The third problem involves Langmuir’s adsorption theory, which includes material-dependent coefficients. The system used existential quantification to logically prove one of the extracted formulas by relating the SR-generated models’ coefficients to the background theory coefficients.
Industry Insights
AI-Descartes possesses a distinct advantage when it comes to handling intricate real-world data. While typical models, such as symbolic regression programs, tend to become overwhelmed by the minutiae, attempting to account for every minor alteration, AI-Descartes effortlessly sifts through the chaos.
It is akin to discovering the melody in a noisy room – this AI model hones in on the crucial patterns concealed within the data. The result? Models that are more transparent and dependable avoid excessive analysis and accurately reflect the occurrences within the data.
Tyler Josephson, co-author of the study and an assistant professor at UMBC, clarifies, “In this work, we relied on human experts to formalize the axioms of the background theory in a computer-readable format. If any axioms were missed or incorrect, it would hinder the system’s functionality.”
This implies that the experts translated the fundamental assumptions or principles of the theory into a format that the AI system could comprehend. Any errors during this process could limit the effectiveness of the system. Josephson adds, “In the future, we aim to automate this process, allowing us to expand our exploration to various domains of science and engineering.”
Conclusion
AI-Descartes demonstrates the value of combining logical reasoning with symbolic regression to obtain meaningful models of physical phenomena. By integrating data and theory, AI-Descartes synthesizes models that are both data-driven and based on first principles. This approach could revolutionize the scientific discovery process by accelerating the discovery of models consistent with prior knowledge. AI-Descartes is an accessible and knowledgeable guide, helping researchers uncover meaningful scientific insights from their data.
AI Descartes. (n.d.). AI Descartes: Combining Data and Theory for Derivable Scientific Discovery. Retrieved July 17, 2023, fromhttps://ai-descartes.github.io
Nasreen* sobbed as she told the story of her family. She had lost two of her children to thalassemia. Two of them were lying on the hospital bed in front of her as blood was being transfused into their bodies. Her husband was the sole earner of her family who labored hard to keep the lives of their children safe and provide medication and treatment for their condition. This was my experience at a thalassemia center in the city of Rawalpindi, Pakistan and sadly, Nasreen’s story is not the only one. There are many people experiencing similar pain and difficulties due to a lack of consultation and awareness. The blood disorder of thalassemia occurs around the world and some of its sub-types are extremely lethal.
Thalassemia has a high incidence in Pakistan
The deadly blood disorder
Thalassemia is a genetic disorder i.e. it is a disease which an individual inherits from parents. The number of red blood cells in the body is extremely low which is due to unavailability of the compound hemoglobin, that carries oxygen in the fluids. The mutation in the genetic material i.e. the DNA causes disruption in the normal production of the blood cells leading to anemia. There are several types of thalassemia depending on the number of the mutated genes one receives from one’s parents and it is also proportional to the severity of the disease. The symptoms appear at a very early age.
The hemoglobin molecule is made up of two chains i.e. alpha and beta-globin, both of which can be affected by mutations. If there is one alpha gene missing than the person is a silent carrier and the increased number of missing genes corresponds to the extremity of this disorder. The most extreme cases are: Hydrops fetalis relating to mutation of alpha chains, Beta thalassemia major and Cooley’s anemia relating to mutations in beta chains. The symptoms are decreased blood production, growth of various organs such as the spleen, abnormalities of bones, and growth issues. The only treatment of severe cases is blood transfusions with medications. Some have frequent transfusions in a month especially those exhibiting severe symptoms, and some may have transfusions once in a while.
The symptoms of Thalassemia appear at a very early age.
Addressing Thalassemia in Pakistan
As mentioned in the
beginning, I got to experience the environment at a thalassemia center and
noted some important points regarding the occurrence of this disease in this
region of the world. One of the main reasons why the incidence is higher is
because of cousin marriages. These marriages have been a tradition for a very
long time and seemingly there aren’t any problems with it as such. But in
certain areas, there are families that have genes for deadly disorders like
thalassemia. The establishment of a relationship between such individuals may
result in a doomed household. According to my observation, most of the patients
had the disease in their family and certain couples had all their kids affected
because both parents were the carriers of this disease. This shows that lack of
awareness and education leads to a terrible situation.
For longtime survival it is necessary that it is addressed at the very beginning and treatment should be started after immediate diagnosis. Pakistan Thalassemia Welfare Society was developed by experts and qualified doctors from around the country in this regard. It is under the direct management of the Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan. There has been the establishment of different centers for blood transfusion, most of which aim to offer treatment for free or subsidized rates. The Society is also a recognized member of Thalassemia International Federation, Cyprus and keeps itself updated about the latest and ongoing research in this mentioned health sector. Pakistan Thalassemia Welfare Society is also registered with the Pakistan Science Foundation and works with the help of donations and funds from their members and other philanthropists throughout the country. It also works to raise awareness about the disease and provide counseling to the people. Every month, different donors from colleges, universities, Pakistan Red Crescent Society, and the Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion help to provide required blood to patients.
Many transfusion centers have been established across the country
These days not only the
government has started to take steps to address the issue, but private groups
are also diving in to provide their help and support. Many transfusion centers
have been established across the country as mentioned and some of them do more
than just providing blood. They also provide counseling to families of affected
individuals and assist in marriages by genetic testing. Many programs have been
introduced to make the people more aware of the ways through which they can
combat this issue and save the lives of their families. In many cases,
counseling encourages people to seek proper guidance for their future decisions
and to avoid troublesome circumstances.
Issues during treatment
There are various issues that
patients may face while seeking treatment. The most common is the lack of
availability of blood. Often, patients are not able to find donors at blood
transfusion centers and they must undergo a great deal of trouble to get one.
This especially happens during the months of summer when the most generous
blood donor group i.e. the students is not available. There are also many side
effects of the treatment such as the buildup of iron in body fluids after repeated
transfusions which is dangerous in high amounts to the vital organs of the body
like the heart, liver, etc. Again, therapies and medications are required to
lower and stabilize iron concentrations.
There are various ongoing
efforts that address to control this disease and provide support to the
patients. Not only do such individuals need medical support but they also
require emotional assistance. Their lifespan depends on the quality of
treatment and the severity of the disease. In the West, many thalassemia
patients have lived a long life but unfortunately, in Pakistan, the lifespan of
such beings isn’t very extended and there is a need to put in more effort at
research and medical level to develop efficient therapies and treatments.
*Note: Names have been changed to main confidentiality.
The curiosity to solve the world’s mystery is essential for humans to understand themselves and find the purpose of their existence. An exciting way to do that is to search for life beyond Earth.
Saturn is the sixth planet in the distance from the Sun and the second-largest planet in our solar system; it is also well-known for its most spectacular rings. Just like the Earth, Saturn has its own set of moons orbiting around it, and one of such moons has grabbed the scientists’ attention as it could potentially host life!
The uncanny similarity of the existence of phosphorus in bone broths and water-spraying plumes of Enceladus is what is called a “chef’s kiss”.
Life on Enceladus
The building blocks of life and water are carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. Saturn’s icy ocean moon, Enceladus, is thought to have liquid water oceans beneath its frozen shell. Cassini spacecraft had collected and analyzed samples from this moon, which, after decades of research, proved to have the existence of organic material on Enceladus.
The search for extraterrestrial life in our solar system became more exciting when a team of scientists, including Southwest Research Institute’s Dr Christopher Gleinin 2020 discovered new evidence that the subsurface ocean of Saturn’s moon Enceladus contains a fundamental building block for life. “Using data from NASA’s Cassini mission, the team directly detected phosphorus in the form of phosphates originating from the moon’s ice-covered global ocean.” (Postberg et al., 2023)(qtd.in SWRI)
Phosphorus — A key component of Life
Phosphorus is the second most abundant mineral in the body, second to calcium. About 85% of the body’s phosphorus is stored in the bones and teeth of humans and animals as phosphates and in their DNA, RNA and cell membranes (Avenue et al., 2022). It is also a vital component of food in nutrients and minerals. Phosphorus is globally consumed in a variety of foods like beef or legumes and dishes made of bone broths, such as Siri Paye across Pakistan and South Asia.
Siri paya is a traditional Pakistani stew made with the head and feet of an animal (typically goat, cow, or lamb), called Siri and paya in Urdu, respectively. It is a typical breakfast meal in the country. The bones are slow-cooked in boiling water with added spices for 4-6 hours. This bone broth is considered nutritious and is enjoyed in the winter among the Pakistani community (Siri et al.). When served with bone marrow, Siri Paye is called “Nalli Siri Paye”, the most delectable version of this dish.
What does Siri Paye have to do with Enceladus?
The revelation of understanding the connection between phosphorus in the human diet and the plumes of Enceladus helps bridge gaps in our understanding of the universe. Bone broth of a Chinese dish called ‘sweet-sour-spareribs’ is also cooked similarly to Siri Paye. A study was conducted by scientists at Oregon State College, Corvallis, to detect how much nutrition this Chinese dish can provide, such as calcium and phosphorus. (Hoh et al., 1934)
The presence of calcium and phosphorus was analyzed before and after cooking, which showed a generous presence of phosphorus at 0.384 gm (Hoh et al., 1934). Similarly, bone marrow is also enjoyed in a variety of dishes. Studies on the nutritional value of bone marrow suggest that “one tablespoon (14 grams) of raw caribou bone marrow provides 1% Phosphorus of the RDI.(Hassan et al., 2012).These studies help reveal its presence in our diets.
This uncanny similarity of the existence of phosphorus in bone broths and water-spraying plumes of Enceladus is what is called a “chef’s kiss”. Life on Earth is just as complex yet simple as we seek it in the universe to be. Such analogies between Earth and other habitable planets or moons can help us take steps further into Astrobiology.
Credits: Cassini Imaging Team/SSI/JPL/ SWRFreie Universität Berlin.
Dr Glein is a leading expert in extraterrestrial oceanography; his team found that phosphate concentrations are at least 100 times higher in the moon’s plume-forming ocean waters than in Earth’s oceans” (qtd.in SWRI). They analyzed a class of salt-rich ice grains with Cassini’s Cosmic Dust Analyzer, which showed the presence of sodium phosphates. The team’s observational results and laboratory analogue experiments suggest that phosphorus is readily available in Enceladus’ ocean as phosphates (Postberg et al., 2023).
This breakthrough discovery for astrobiology can lead studies in the search for life beyond Earth. Glein believes “the next step is to return to Enceladus to see if the habitable ocean is actually inhabited”.(Postberg et al., 2023). If that is the case, Pakistani food enthusiasts must keep a keen eye on Enceladus to someday enjoy extra-terrestrial Siri Paye.
References:
Avenue, 677 Huntington, Boston, & Ma 02115. (2022, March 2). Phosphorus. The Nutrition Source. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/phosphorus/
Hassan, A. A., Sandanger, T. M., & Brustad, M. (2012). Level of selected nutrients in meat, liver, tallow and bone marrow from semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer t. Tarandus L.). International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 71, 10.3402/ijch.v71i0.17997. https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v71i0.17997
Hoh, P.-W., Williams, J. C., & Pease, C. S. (1934). Possible Sources of Calcium and Phosphorus in the Chinese Diet: I. The Determination of Calcium and Phosphorus in a Typical Chinese Dish Containing Meat and Bone. The Journal of Nutrition, 7(5), 535–546. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/7.5.535
Institute, S. R. (n.d.). Key building block for life found at Saturn’s moon Enceladus. Retrieved 3 August 2023, from https://phys.org/news/2023-06-key-block-life-saturn-moon.html
Postberg, F., Sekine, Y., Klenner, F., Glein, C. R., Zou, Z., Abel, B., Furuya, K., Hillier, J. K., Khawaja, N., Kempf, S., Noelle, L., Saito, T., Schmidt, J., Shibuya, T., Srama, R., & Tan, S. (2023). Detection of phosphates originating from Enceladus’s ocean. Nature, 618(7965), 7965. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05987-9
Siri Paye: The Breakfast Of Champions. (n.d.). Slurp. Retrieved 3 August 2023, from https://www.slurrp.com/article/siri-paye-the-breakfast-of-champions-1659549954356
“We often don’t get the credit for doing something that’s actually of value to society.”
This story of meeting and listening to someone so famous yet humble is quite an experience. I remember that day well.
It was a quiet and pleasant afternoon in 2018 when I was in Germany for higher studies. I was sitting in my department’s waiting area with a few classmates. Recent lectures were pretty brain-scratching, and I thought some relaxation was much needed. My classmates and I just got out of a scientific writing course lecture and were waiting for lunchtime. I was scrolling down my phone, looking at recent news, updates, and social media, when one of my friends asked, “Did you complete your cosmology exercises?”
I came back to my senses, “No! It was pretty hard.” I looked at him. “I am thinking of having a group session with some other classmates. You may join as well.”
We were talking when another classmate came over to us. “Are you guys going to attend the guest lecture due today?” She asked.
“Who is it?” I looked at her.
“It’s the lady who discovered pulsars.”
“Oh my God! Really? Jocelyn Bell?”
Believe it or not, I jumped off the chair with these exact expressions. The next moment, I ran towards the nearby research centre where she would present her talk.
In the lecture hall, there she was – Jocelyn Bell, giving lectures on how she became a distinguished woman in science. Answering many questions and narrating her story, I learned that women face much discrimination in technical fields.
Jocelyn’s Early Life
Dame Susan Jocelyn Bell Burnell, born on July 15 1943, is an astrophysicist from Northern Ireland. She was a postgraduate student and discovered pulsars in 1967.
She grew up in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, where she went to the Preparatory Department of Lurgan College and studied science despite the beliefs that boys and girls who studied technical subjects were supposed to learn cooking and cross-stitching. She completed her secondary education in 1961 from The Mount School, a Quaker girl’s boarding school in York, England. She received her Bachelor’s science degree in natural philosophy from Glasgow University in 1965, and then in 1969, she got her PhD from New Hall, Cambridge.
Jocelyn Bell grew up in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, where she went to the Preparatory Department of Lurgan College.
In Cambridge, she, with Antony Hewish and others, constructed an interplanetary scintillation array to study quasars. The Interplanetary Scintillation Array is a radio telescope built in 1967 at the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory in Cambridge, England, and was run by the Cavendish Astrophysics Group. The instrument’s initial area was 16,000 m2 or around 4 acres. It was expanded in 1978 to 9 acres and renovated in 1989.
Her Story
Her words echoed in the hall, “It was pretty tough because, at that time, it was a tradition that when a woman entered the lecture halls, all the men whistled, stamped, catcalled, and banged the desks. These were wooden lecture theatres, so you could easily make a lot of noise.
As the only female in the class, I had to face that. I learned to control and manage my blushing. At least when faced with that, I no longer blushed. I walked in still-faced and took my seat.”
I was surprised when I learnt how women are discriminated against in every field of life, yet I was impressed how Burnell stood her ground in the world of men. A world where women were discouraged from studying technical and tactical fields and forced to work on cooking and embroidery. There is no shame in women learning cooking and stitching, nor should there be a boundary created for them not to choose science fields.
She added, “It is true that there is a lot of hard work, and it took two years to build the radio telescope. For two years, she was working outdoors in all kinds of weather. Very healthy! But also a lot of work. In Britain, the Ph.D. program is three years, so two-thirds of my program was on building the equipment. We did not do the building full-time.
Typically, you would work in the mornings to build the equipment. There would be afternoon classes, lectures, discussions, or other work. It was quite a good mix. Healthy outdoor work in the morning and indoor intellectual creation in the afternoon. For some people like me, it was quite a lot of manual work. For other people, it is perhaps more pencil and paperwork, or these days, computer work. So, there is variety. Quite often, when you are training as a researcher, there is quite a lot of monotonous stuff.”
A world where women were discouraged from studying technical and tactical fields and forced to work on cooking and embroidery. There is no shame in women learning cooking and stitching, nor should there be a boundary created for them not to choose science fields.
Jocelyn’s Career and Research
At Cambridge with Antony Hewish, in 1967, Bell Burnell was trying to find more quasars, but they needed a new radio telescope. With her five colleagues, Burnell made a new radio telescope, was the first to operate it, and found new data for hundreds of quasars.
On August 6, 1967, Burnell received strange data on her readouts, which she couldn’t recognize, so she labelled it with a question mark and moved on. But the data kept coming from a specific part of the sky, lodged in Burnell’s mind. It seemed like a bit of scruff data, a series of rapid impulses coming at 1.3 seconds, appearing too fast to be coming from a star. The data didn’t seem to go from the quasars they were looking for, but it was coming regularly from the same patch of sky, which drove their curiosity.
In those days, they didn’t have computers or screens to monitor real-time data. The data was printed on long horizontal sheets of paper, and people had to analyze it by the eye. During her guest lecture, she told us she was so curious about this new signal that she had to study 3-kilometre-long papers daily. We think life is hard for us today, but going through 3 km long paper is just. I can’t imagine the hassle!
Bell and her advisor, Hewish, jokingly named this scruff of data as “little green men.” Both of them were convinced that the signal was artificial or that it could be alien signals.
However, she started to get the same type of signals from another place, then from third and fourth place. It was unusual because neither aliens’ signals could reach them from four different places in the sky, nor could it be some strange artificial interference. It was a strange mystery to them; one cannot be ignored. Later, the objects were identified as pulsars, rapidly spinning neutron stars sending pulses in their direction.
In February 1968, they published a paper explaining the mysterious signals named pulsars. 1974, Hewish and his collaborator Sir Martin Ryle were awarded a Nobel prize for this discovery. Unfortunately, Bell Burnell was not included in it, which remains controversial.
The critical discovery of pulsars will always be associated with Jocelyn Bell. Her narrative motivates everyone who aspires to make their mark in the scientific community, not only for women but everyone else. Jocelyn symbolizes what makes a great scientist—unwavering determination, a dedication to meticulous observation, and a courageous exploration of the unexplored.
Listening to the awe-inspiring story of Jocelyn Bell by herself was a fantastic experience. The last thing, or the best advice for scientists or aspiring scientists, I received from her was:
“Always look for anomalies. No wonder what lies in there!”
