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- A recent study has identified a potential link between the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac from Sinovac Biotech and immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a rare and serious blood disorder.
- What is Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)?
- TTP is a life-threatening condition that affects blood clotting.
- "Thrombotic" refers to the formation of blood clots.
- "Thrombocytopenic" indicates a reduced number of platelets in the blood.
- "Purpura" refers to purple bruising caused by bleeding beneath the skin.
- In TTP, small blood clots form in blood vessels throughout the body, which can impede or block blood flow to vital organs such as the brain, kidneys, and heart. This interruption in blood flow can lead to organ dysfunction or damage. Additionally, the clotting process depletes platelets, which are essential for stopping bleeding. As a result, a lack of platelets can cause further bleeding problems, including internal bleeding and bruising.
- What Causes TTP?
- TTP is caused by a deficiency in a protein enzyme called ADAMTS13. This enzyme regulates blood clotting by breaking down a clotting factor. When ADAMTS13 levels are insufficient, an excessive number of blood clots are formed, which can damage organs and tissues.
- TTP can be either inherited or acquired. In many cases, it develops suddenly and may last for days, weeks, or even months. It can also cause a rare type of anemia, known as hemolytic anemia, due to the rapid destruction of red blood cells.
- Symptoms of TTP
- The symptoms of TTP may vary, but typically include:
- Unexplained bruising or bleeding under the skin
- Confusion or changes in mental status
- Extreme fatigue or weakness
- Fever
- Severe headache
- Pale or jaundiced (yellowish) skin
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heart rate (over 100 beats per minute)
- If left untreated, TTP can lead to severe complications, such as brain damage, stroke, or even death.
- India is currently in advanced talks with Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the Maldives, and Singapore to develop cross-border electricity transmission lines as part of the ambitious 'One Sun One World One Grid' (OSOWOG) initiative.
- About the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) Initiative:
- The OSOWOG concept was first proposed by the Prime Minister of India at the inaugural Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in October 2018. It is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at creating a transnational electricity grid capable of supplying power across the globe.
- The project is being led by India and the UK, in collaboration with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the World Bank Group.
- Vision:
- The core vision of OSOWOG is to link regional electricity grids through a shared global infrastructure, enabling the transfer of renewable energy, particularly solar power. This would allow electricity to be transmitted from regions where the sun is shining to areas in need of power, maximizing the use of solar and other renewable resources.
- The ultimate goal is to provide clean, sustainable energy to approximately 140 countries through a unified grid, ensuring the worldwide distribution of solar energy and other renewable power sources.
- Phases of the OSOWOG Initiative:
- Phase 1: The first phase focuses on connecting India’s power grid with those of the Middle East, South Asia, and South-East Asia. This will create a common grid for sharing solar energy and other renewable resources across these regions.
- Phase 2: The second phase involves expanding the interconnected grid to include Africa, tapping into its renewable energy resources.
- Phase 3: The final phase aims to achieve a global interconnection, with the goal of connecting 2,600 GW of renewable power by 2050. This phase seeks to integrate as many countries as possible into a unified grid, offering access to clean energy to every nation.
- India, with a total of 163 universities ranked, is the most represented country in the recently released 16th edition of the QS World University Rankings: Asia, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
- About the QS Asia University Rankings:
- Publication: This ranking has been published annually since 2009 by QS, and it highlights the top universities across Asia each year.
- Methodology: The methodology used for the QS Asia Rankings is similar to the QS World University Rankings, but with some additional indicators and modified weightings specific to the Asian context.
- Indicators: The ranking is based on 11 indicators, which include:
- Academic reputation (30%)
- Employer reputation (20%)
- Faculty/student ratio (10%)
- International research network (10%)
- Citations per paper (10%)
- Papers per faculty (5%)
- Staff with a PhD (5%)
- Proportion of inbound exchange students (2.5%)
- Proportion of outbound exchange students (2.5%)
- Key Highlights:
- Assessment Scope: The QS Asia Rankings cover 984 institutions from 25 countries across Eastern, Southern, Southeastern, and Central Asia.
- Top Institutions:
- Peking University retains the top position.
- The University of Hong Kong remains in second place.
- National University of Singapore holds the third spot.
- Indian Representation: India has two universities in the top 50 and seven in the top 100 of the QS Asia Rankings 2025, with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) leading at 44th position.
- Significant Improvements: Among Indian universities, the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) showed the most significant improvement, jumping 70 spots to secure the 148th position.
- This year's rankings further emphasize the growing global presence and academic excellence of Indian institutions, reflecting their increasing impact in the Asian higher education landscape.