1. China launches third and final lab module of space station
Tags: Science and Technology International News
China on 1 November, 2022 launched its third and final permanent space station module (Tiangong space station).
Important facts
The name of this lab module is Mengtian.
Mengtian is the second lab module and the last major component of China's space station.
Mengtian will later be relocated to its permanent position and three modules—named Tianhe, the Wentian Lab Module, and Mengtian—will form a basic T-shaped structure of the space station.
It will provide space for science experiments in zero gravity.
Mengtian weighs about 23 tons, is 17.9 metres (58.7 ft) long and has a diameter of 4.2 metres (13.8 ft).
China's space laboratory will be fully ready as soon as this module, sent to the Wenchang Launching Station, located on the coast of the southern island province of Hainan, via Long March-5BY-4 rocket, connects to the space station Tiangong.
China successfully launched the first lab module of its under-construction space station in the last week of July 2022.
2. IVRI demanded a ban on using Aceclofenac in cattle
Tags: Science and Technology
The Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) has called for a ban on the use of aceclofenac in cattle.
Important facts
IVRI found in its study that aceclofenac was rapidly converted to diclofenac when injected into the buffalo.
About Aceclofenac
It is used for the relief of pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
Wildlife Institute of India, BNHS and IVRI had written to the Union Health Ministry seeking a ban on Aceclofenac, but no action has been taken so far.
About Diclofenac
It is an anti-inflammatory drug and was banned for veterinary use by the Government of India in 2006.
This was the main reason for the massive decline (99 percent) in the vulture population across Asia.
3. First successful flight test of phase -II ballistic missile defence interceptor
Tags: Defence Science and Technology National News
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the first successful flight test of Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Interceptor AD-1 missile with Large Kill Altitude Bracket from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on November 2, 2022.
Interceptor AD-1 Missile
It is a long-range interceptor missile designed for both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception of long-range ballistic missiles as well as aircraft.
It is driven by a two-phase solid motor.
It is equipped with indigenously developed advanced control system, navigation and guidance algorithms to accurately guide the missile to the target.
It has the ability to hit many different types of targets.
During this flight-test, all sub-systems performed as expected.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
It is a premier defence research and development agency under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
It aims to make India self-reliant in critical defence technology and systems.
It was set up in 1958.
Headquarters - New Delhi
Chairman - Samir V Kamat
4. SpaceX launches first Falcon Heavy mission after three years
Tags: Science and Technology
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, the world's most powerful active rocket, was launched for the first time after nearly three years on November 1, 2022, from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Important facts
Under this mission, satellites of the US Space Force have been sent into space from the Falcon Heavy rocket.
This mission was delayed for years by the Space Force.
Earlier in 2018, Elon Musk sent a red sports car of his second company Tesla into space as a test payload on a Falcon Heavy rocket.
The weight of this rocket is equal to the weight of two space shutters, which weigh 63.8 tonnes.
The 230-foot-long rocket has 27 Merlin engines, which makes it the world's most powerful rocket.
Saturn-5 was the most powerful rocket ever. Which was used by NASA for the search on the moon.
About SpaceX
It is a private spaceflight company that sends satellites and people to space, including NASA crews to the International Space Station (ISS).
The company sent its first two astronauts to the ISS on May 30, 2020, aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon, and several more on behalf of NASA and other organizations.
As of mid-2022, it is the only commercial spaceflight company capable of sending astronauts into space.
SpaceX was founded by Alan Musk, a South African-born businessman and entrepreneur.
5. CDFD launches study to develop treatments for rare genetic diseases in children
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Hyderabad-based Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) on November 1, 2022 launched a nationwide study to decode the genetic mutation that causes Paediatric Rare Genetic Disorder (PRaGeD) in children.
Important facts
The PRaGeD mission is a pan-India initiative funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
The initiative will discover genes that cause rare diseases, develop suitable treatments, provide counselling and create awareness among people.
About 15 research and health institutions from across the country are participating in the study.
Under this initiative, 5,600 families will be screened over a period of five years to identify the genetic causes of undiagnosed paediatric rare genetic diseases.
Once the genetic mutation is detected in these children, the researchers will conduct studies in animals and cell models to understand how the genetic mutations are causing the rare disease.
What is a rare genetic disease?
A rare disease is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population.
Most rare diseases are genetic, therefore these are called rare genetic diseases.
These diseases are present throughout a person’s entire life, even if symptoms do not immediately appear.
Common rare diseases found in India are haemophilia, thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia and primary immune deficiency in children, auto-immune diseases, lysosomal storage disorders like Pompe disease, Hirschsprung disease etc.
The burden of rare genetic diseases in India is close to 70 million and about 30 percent of children suffering from such diseases are below the age of five years.
6. Kalanamak Rice
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Indian Agricultural Research Institute has successfully tested two new dwarf varieties of Kalanamak rice (Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1638 and Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1652) in Uttar Pradesh which give double yield.
About Kalanamak Rice
It is a traditional variety of paddy with black husk and strong aroma.
It is a non-basmati rice with medium slender grain length.
It is believed to be a gift from Lord Buddha to the people of Shravasti when he visited the region after attaining enlightenment.
This variety has been in cultivation since the original Buddhist period (600 BCE).
It is popular in the Himalayan Terai (Kapilvastu) of Nepal and eastern Uttar Pradesh, where it is known as the fragrant black pearl.
Kalanamak rice was granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Government of India in 2012.
Two dwarf varieties of Kalanamak rice
Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1638
Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1652
Health Benefits of Kalanamak
It is rich in micronutrients such as Iron and Zinc.
Therefore it is said to prevent diseases borne out of nutrient deficiencies.
Regular consumption of Kalanamak rice is believed to prevent Alzheimer's disease.
It contains 11% protein, which is almost twice that of common rice varieties.
It has a low glycemic index (49% to 52%) which makes it relatively sugar free and suitable for diabetics.
It also contains antioxidants like anthocyanins which are useful in preventing heart disease.
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)
It is also known as the Pusa Institute, India's national institute for agricultural research, education and extension.
The institute was originally located in Pusa, Bihar as the Imperial Institute of Agricultural Research in 1911.
In 1919 it was renamed as Imperial Agricultural Research Institute and after a major earthquake in Pusa, it was shifted to Delhi in 1936.
It is financed and administered by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
7. Rashtrapati Bhavan and other historical monuments in Delhi illuminated in Red to raise awareness of Dyslexia
Tags: Science and Technology
Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate and other important central government monuments and buildings like North block and South block were illuminated with red light on 30 October to raise awareness of the people about dyslexia.
Every year October month is observed as the International Dyslexia awareness month in the world. Since 2019, Go Red for Dyslexia has helped spread awareness for dyslexia across the globe by encouraging people to turn anything and everything red.
Go Red for Dyslexia is a global campaign supported by Succeed with Dyslexia organisation.
What is Dyslexia ?
Dyslexia is a brain-based type of learning disability that specifically impairs a person's ability to read. People with dyslexia have trouble matching the letters they see on the page with the sounds those letters and combinations of letters make.
While people with dyslexia are slow readers, they are often, paradoxically, very fast and creative thinkers with strong reasoning abilities.
Dyslexia can be inherited in some families, and recent studies have identified a number of genes that may predispose an individual to developing dyslexia.
8. Yogi Adityanath inaugurates Asia’s first pathogen reduction machine at KGMU in Lucknow
Tags: place in news Science and Technology State News
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated Asia’s first pathogen reduction machine at the King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow. He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, State minister Mayankeshwar Sharan and Professor Bipin Puri, Vice Chancellor of King George's Medical University. The Chief Minister also inaugurated the KGMU’s Department of Thoracic Surgery and Vascular Surgery.
What is a Pathogen?
- The pathogens is an organism which can cause disease to its host body. It could be viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, parasites.
- Pathogens cause illness to their hosts through a variety of ways. It directly damages the tissues or cells of the host during replication,
- However, sometimes due to a strong or excessive immune response from the host body, the body itself kills infected and uninfected cells and damages host tissues.
Need of cleaning transfused blood of pathogens
- Blood transfusions are needed in procedures ranging from surgery to delivery and transplant. Blood transfusion is always done after all the necessary blood tests are done. But despite this, some impurities like pathogens remain in the blood, due to which reactions or side effects can be seen in recipient patients.
- This machine helps in eliminating any type of pathogens in the donor's blood which will prove to be very beneficial for organ transplant or patients with weak immunity.
- The machine is capable of completely purifying the blood unit by removing all types of bacteria from the blood within 10-15 minutes through the ultraviolet immunometer.
9. Kerala to cull 20,000 birds after Avian flu outbreak in Alappuzha
Tags: place in news Science and Technology State News
The Alappuzha district administration in Kerala has started the culling of around 20,000 birds in the Haripad municipality area to control the spread of the Avian flu outbreak.
The district administration started the operation from 27 October 2022 after the sample of dead birds from the area was sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal tested positive for H5N1 virus.
Birds within one kilometer of the infection area will be killed and the authorities have already imposed a ban on the transportation of birds within 1 kilometer area.
Center sends a high level delegation
The Union Ministry of Health has already sent a high-level team headed by Dr Rajesh Kedamani to Kerala to investigate the outbreak in detail and submit a report with immediate recommendations for prevention and control.
The seven-member team comprises experts drawn from the National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, New Delhi; the National Centre for Disease Control, New Delhi; the National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai; and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Bird Flu and its Impact on Human
- Avian influenza or bird flu refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.
- Infected birds shed virus through saliva, mucus and feces. The virus can affect human beings through eyes, nose or mouth.
- Bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with bird flu viruses have occurred. According to the World Health Organisation , Humans can be infected with avian influenza virus subtypes A(H5N1), A(H7N9), and A(H9N2) .
10. Number of TB patients increases worldwide after 20 years: WHO
Tags: Science and Technology International News
According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report “Global Tuberculosis Report 2022” released on 27 October 2022, the incidence of Tuberculosis (TB) patients worldwide has shown an increasing trend reversing a 20 year trend of decline due to covid pandemic.
According to the WHO a total of 16 lakh people died from TB in 2021 which is an increase of 14% as compared to 2019. In 2019 14 lakh people died due to TB while in 2020 it was 15 lakhs.
The WHO says that due to the ongoing war in different parts of the world, the global energy crisis and the food crisis, the situation of TB may worsen in the coming times. “The first priority should be to restore patient access to TB related services so that the detection and treatment of TB cases can be brought back to 2019 levels,” the report says.
Main Highlights of the WHO Report
- TB is the 13th leading cause of death and the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19.
- About 10 million people became ill with TB in 2021, which is 4.5 percent more than in 2020.
- An estimated 66 million lives were saved through TB diagnosis and treatment between 2000 and 2020.
- Globally, TB incidence is falling at about 2% per year and between 2015 and 2020 the cumulative reduction was 11%.
- Ending the TB epidemic by 2030 is among the health targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- In 2021, the largest number of new TB cases occurred in the South-East Asian Region, with 46% of new cases, followed by the WHO African Region, with 23% of new cases and the WHO Western Pacific with 18%.
India leads the New TB cases
According to the WHO, in 2020, 87% of new TB cases occurred in the 30 high TB burden countries. Eight countries accounted for more than two thirds of the global total.
Maximum new cases were reported from India and followed by, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
TB related Deaths
India ranks first among the four countries that have the highest number of TB related deaths. It is followed by Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines.
The report says that it is possible that TB will once again be the number one cause of death in the world. Last year it was covid -19.
What is TB?
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. Tuberculosis is curable and preventable.
TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected.
India and TB
The government has set a target to eliminate TB from India by 2025.
Every year March 24 is observed as World Tuberculosis Day in the world.
World Health Organisation (WHO)
- The World Health Organisation is a specialised agency of the United Nations which was founded on 7 April, 1948.
- Headquarters of WHO : Geneva, Switzerland
- Members : 194 countries
- Director General of WHO: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia .
