R Geeta

[P. Sainath @PSainath_org]

1/8. Most Indians see the Big Fat Indian Wedding as a national achievement and are not put off by it, according to TV commentary, including on BBC. Really? Did BBC, anyone, do a poll/survey of most Indians? People hit the streets for what they see as a national achievement – like to greet the returning T20 world cup winning team. Anyone seen Mumbaikars dancing on the streets to celebrate the Ambani wedding? #ambaniwedding #psainath

[Soumya Swaminathan @doctorsoumya]

Excellent initiative to beat the heat during #Elections2024

[TheLiverDoc™ @theliverdoc]

Woke up to the news that a patient of mine died at a nearby hospital from a bacterial infection that responded to zero antibiotics. Zero. The bacteria, Acinetobacter baumanii was resistant to every single antibiotic tested. Every one of them. He was only 62 years old. He had an easy 10 years left, if not for that infection.

Individuals, doctors and specific communities are to be blamed for such deaths. Not the liver disease. Everyone of us, through actions and silence are to blame.

India is rapidly becoming the hub of multi-drug resistant bacterial infections in the world.

There is a lot we can do at individual and group level for this nightmare to dim out.

1⃣Please stop taking antibiotics on your own, especially for a fever, cough/sore throat which in the majority is caused by a virus, not a bacteria.

2⃣Please stop stockpiling antibiotics at home to use at your own whims and fancies.

3⃣Once started for a bacterial infection, please do not stop the course mid-way and complete the course as advised. Most antibiotic courses range from 5 to 7 days and sometimes more in case of complicated infections.

4⃣Please do not take antibiotics based on "pharmacist prescriptions" over the counter.

5⃣Pharmacists, please do not 'suggest' any antibiotics over the counter because "it is a popular choice" based on doctors prescriptions. You are not 'doctors' to suggest any medicine anytime. So dispense and educate the public on what needs to be done and the needful adverse events of medications (which most doctors fail to discuss on) that they need to know of.

6⃣Doctors, please do not prescribe antibiotics as if fever is a symptom of antibiotic-deficiency. Every patient you meet have not come to you for an antibiotic prescription.

7⃣Doctors, please do not prescribe antibiotics over social media such as Whatsapp without seeing or examining patients to confirm bacterial origin of infection.

8⃣Doctors, please do not start an antibiotic the moment a patient enters the hospital emergency or in-patient department. Not all patients are admitted for infection control. Prescribe antibiotics when reports/cultures for the same or the clinical situation (immunosuppressed) warrants it.

9⃣Doctors, please do not upgrade antibiotics (eg: directly to meropenem from ceftriaxone) because the fever did not go away in 8 hours time and do not keep upgrading and changing antibiotics every day because the fever spikes keep coming, even though intensity and frequency are reducing. Medicine is not magic.

🔟Pseudoscience peddlers - Homeopathic and Ayurveda practitioners and Naturopaths, please dont even think about prescribing antibiotics, because contrary to what you believe and what the Government has empowered you to believe, you are not doctors and are not competent in treating anyone, including single-celled organisms. Turn around, face the wall and stay there. And stop adulterating your junk remedies and supplements with antibiotics.

⏸️Prescription of antibiotics is the singular litmus test for a doctor, that takes into consideration EVERYTHING that makes that person a "doctor" - it tests the physician's knowledge, skill, reasoning, critical thinking, morality, ethics and humanism. You fail at this, you fail in your duty. Be a better human first, being a good doctor will follow.

[S Krishnaswamy @krishnamku]

Perhaps disease and infection onset or progression also could be a function of circadian rhythm.

[Harsh Mander @harsh_mander]

On Diwali in 1947 Gandhi, tormented by the Partition slaughter said the light we must light is not external, but the light of love in our hearts.
In our world today darkened by hate can we light this lamp of love? Happy Diwali to all my brothers and sisters, every one of them

[S Krishnaswamy @krishnamku]

An interesting read. Did not know Darwin conducted experiments in London zoo with monkeys to test their morbid curiosity!
@sciam
https://t.co/LEWPLHiNzS

[R Geeta @GeetaRGeeta]

A terrific thread on the nitty gritty of effectively communicating a combined science-history-literature-popular-etc perception of anything. In this case geography, to put it simplistically.

[Raj Bhagat P #Mapper4Life @rajbhagatt]

#Thread on Ponniyin Selvan #Maps
Last year, I had the opportunity to work as map consultant in director Maniratnam's magnum opus, #PonniyinSelvan movie. Though seen only in bg, there was a lot of professional effort put into maps which must be the 1st in Indian film industry 1/n

[MSSRF @mssrf]

With profound sadness, we convey that our Founder - Professor M S Swaminathan passed away this morning at 11.15 am at his residence in Chennai.

Let's all pray for the departed soul. 
May our beloved Professor rest in peace.

@doctorsoumya @MadhuraFAS @nityarao63

[Andrew Hendry @EcoEvoEvoEco]

FYI - "ChatGPT gulps up 500 milliliters of water ... every time you ask it a series of between 5 to 50 prompts or questions." https://t.co/0TGzsAGKVq

[R Geeta @GeetaRGeeta]

@WayneMaddison love the scale...

[ParanjoyGuhaThakurta @paranjoygt]

Three years ago: Manipur Chief Minister pressured me to let off arrested drug lord: Manipur lady cop to High Court- The New Indian Express https://t.co/4y0DGkl9s2

[Aniket Sule @aniket_sule]

If you donot agree with exclusion of #evolution from grade 10 @ncert textbooks, you can register your protest by signing the appeal here: https://t.co/VzAW5cTleN

@Bssallindia @gsaipsn @tncvidya @joshiamitabhevo @Abhadra7 @scientistsen1 @rohinimd25

[R Geeta @GeetaRGeeta]

@vivekster chaat masala-na chaat thaan

[R Geeta @GeetaRGeeta]

Besant Nagar, Chennai! Today!! Feb 12 4 pm!!!

[The Institute of Mathematical Sciences @IMScChennai]

On Charles Darwin's Birthday, #DarwinDay, IMSc and TNSF members will be at #ElliotsBeach on 12 Feb at 4pm with posters and games about Evolution. All are welcome!

[R Geeta @GeetaRGeeta]

@vivekster So you should get a copyright on the name :-D

[R Geeta @GeetaRGeeta]

@WayneMaddison Well, we are nearly there with "monophyletic clade" :-D

[R Geeta @GeetaRGeeta]

@WayneMaddison @joinmastodon Not an answer, but I found this article interesting; it ends with suggesting that "...scientists switching to Mastodon don’t rush to delete their Twitter accounts. “At the very least, they might still use both services,” https://t.co/94vD18RVUc

[The People's Forum @PeoplesForumNYC]

🇨🇺 LET CUBA REBUILD: Urgent Appeal in the New York Times

We have placed an urgent appeal in the Sunday edition demanding Biden temporary lift sanctions & allow Cuba to purchase urgently needed supplies for rebuilding after #HurricaneIan

https://t.co/4rnlket1eC #ByeByeBlockade

[R Geeta @GeetaRGeeta]

SIGN THE PETITION
https://t.co/3fPIfymOC4?

[R Geeta @GeetaRGeeta]

@WayneMaddison @rdmpage @DavidRMaddison Wow, brings back memories of becoming familiar with both computers and using software! Hours spent exploring both!!