Jan-17S&T Flashcards
Jan-17S&T -Index
6.1. Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
(CEPI)
6.2. Klebsiella Pneumoniae Bacteria
6.3. Waste to Energy Plant
6.4. Scientific Social Responsibility
6.5. Floating Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Plant
6.6. Exoplanet: Wolf1061C
6.7. G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR)
6.8. Gravitational Wave Telescope: NGARI
6.9. NASA Mission to Explore Asteroids
6.10. Ashalim Project
6.11. India Becomes an Associate Member of CERN
6.12. E-Cigarettes6.1. COALITION FOR EPIDEMIC PREPAREDNESS INNOVATIONS (CEPI)
Why in news
It was officially launched in Jan 2017 at World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos with an initial investment of $460 million from the Germany, Japan and Norway including Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
What is CEPI?
It is a Global alliance of governments, intergovernmental
institutions like WHO, health specialists, and philanthropists
to finance and coordinate the development of new vaccine to
prevent and contain infectious disease epidemics.
CEPI has signed a MoU with WHO. It is using WHO’s priority
list to choose which diseases to pursue.
CEPI has finalized three diseases to start developing vaccines
for: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Lassa fever
and Nipah.
Why Need of CEPI?
Infectious disease epidemics cost the world $60 billion each year endangering lives, disrupting societies and damaging economies esp. of low and middle income countries.
Recent cases like Ebola outbreak in West Africa and Zika in the America have exposed serious flaws in the world’s capacity to prepare for and respond to infectious disease outbreaks.
Box–Significance
It will provide a permanent, sustainable model for epidemic vaccine development through sharing of risk and benefits of vaccine development.
It will help in building regional capabilities of various stakeholders in the long run.
It will shorten the time it takes to make vaccines to protect against virus epidemics, which can emerge suddenly as global public health threats.
6.2. KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE BACTERIA
Why in News? A US woman died from an infection that was resistant to all 26 available antibiotics, raising new concerns about rise of dangerous superbugs. The bacterium found was Klebsiella pneumonia that contained the enzyme called as New Delhi metallo-beta- lactamase (NDM-1) in its gene. What is a superbug? Bacteria can carry genes that allow them to survive exposure to the antibiotics we currently have. These are called superbugs or antibiotic resistant. There are two reasons for emergence of resistance: Spontaneous mutation of bacterium’s DNA Transfer of ABR genes from one bacteria to another Major reason for increasing number of superbugs’ emergence is the misuse or overuse of antibiotics. How can we stop the spread of superbugs? There is a lot we can do as individuals and as a community, through our governments, to improve the situation and reduce the risk of being infected with a superbug. Reducing individual risk Maintain good personal care and hygiene Limit the antibiotics you receive
Use in this in animals to be avoided: Worldwide, about 80% of all antibiotics are used in food animals but many a times antibiotics provide no or marginal benefit. Renew our focus on safe water- NDM-1 is found in New Delhi’s chlorinated water supply. Research and development can only be the long term solution for the problem Awareness among the individuals regarding the spread of superbugs and International cooperation. Way Forward
Indian Red Line Campaign is a good move in the direction of awareness and further steps should be taken such as putting various antibiotics in Schedule X (medicine not to be sold without prescription). (For spread of superbugs- Refer VisionIAS Current Affairs – September 2016 issue)
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6.3. WASTE TO ENERGY PLANT
About
Waste to energy plant can have two types of municipal solid waste (MSW).
One, which burns all the municipal waste and the other,
Which burns Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF).
RDF is produced from combustible components of MSW removing out components such as glass, etc. The waste is shredded, dried and baled and then burned to produce electricity.
Three major concerns for the plants are
Technology: combustion or conversion technologies such as pyrolysis and gasification are not very well known to us and also they are very costly.
Emissions from the plants causing concerns for environment and also to health of individuals in particular
Financial viability with respect to high cost of plants and also the high cost of generation of energy as compared to conventional sources of energy.
Other external concerns include hue and cry from the people living in the vicinity of the plants, the NGOs and also from the state authorities such as pollution control boards, NGT, etc.
Benefits of the waste to energy plants
It can be a reliable source of energy as the MSW will always be there as a fuel
Landfill sites are limited and hence they are very much needed
It is net greenhouse gas reducer as Methane is mostly emitted out of decomposition of landfill sites
By-products can be used as fertilizers
Reduction on reliance to fossil fuels and also a source of energy.
What can be done to make the plants more viable?
Proper segregation of waste at source and also before induction into the plant.
Induction of technologically advanced plants such as that uses pyrolysis or gasification as the technique which have emissions in permissive limits
Pollution control boards are expected to provide technical assistance and keep a check on the emissions/environmental footprint of plants.
Government support and subsidies are needed to make them financially viable.
Way forward
The focus should be on the 3R’s of MSW (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) but there will definitely be MSW even after 3R’s. So these plants can help getting rid of the waste and also provides with the energy.
6.4. SCIENTIFIC SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Why in News?
Prime Minister advocated scientific social responsibility (SSR) on the lines of corporate social responsibility (CSR) at the 104th Indian Science Congress.
What is Scientific Social Responsibility?
It is analogous to CSR. CSR includes initiatives that benefit society.
Similarly, SSR shall include encouraging innovation and applying scientific models for the benefit of society.
SSR also includes promoting greener options/ climate friendly innovations and research models.
SSR would promote scientific excellence in all stakeholders including educational institutions.
Way Forward
All leading institutions, colleges, schools, universities in each major city must be interlinked with research institutions and science laboratories.
This will make it easier to share ideas and resources and also impart scientific training to the youth.
Scientists should also be warned of disruptive technologies and be prepared to leverage them for growth.
6.5. FLOATING LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG) PLANT
Why in news?
Recently a Chinese company has developed its own version of
system for floating LNG plant.
Each plant, as single unit will have all features like loading and
storage facilities for LNG, Regasification and Power generation.
Smallest floating plant will have a capacity to generate 10 MW
while largest will generate 800 MW of electricity.
Advantages
It provides a clean alternative to coal based power plant with
far less environment footprint because of less carbon emissions.
Investment friendly and cost effective as it minimizes land
acquisition process and also involves less civil works.
Box–LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
It is natural gas converted into a liquid by cooling it to -260°F (-162°C).
LNG is 85 to 95% methane, along with few percent ethane, even less propane and butane, and trace nitrogen.
It is odorless, colourless, non-corrosive and non-toxic liquid.
The volume of gas is contracted by 600 times during liquefaction, making it easier and safer to store and ship.
In liquid state, it does not ignite.
6.6. EXOPLANET: WOLF1061C
Recently astronomers have studied an Exoplanet called Wolf 1061c and found that this celestial body could be habitable in the future as it in within habitable zone (goldilocks zone) of its star.
Wolf 1061c is a rocky planet more than 4 times the mass of earth, and part of Wolf 1061 system.
Wolf 1061c might have a chaotic climate because it changes orbit at much faster rate than earth which have slower variations in its orbit around sun. It could cause freezing or heating of the planet quite frequently.
They believed that Wolf 1061c could sustain life only under one condition – the short time scales over which its orbit changes could be enough that it could actually cool the planet off.
More research needs to be conducted to fully understand this exoplanet surface and atmosphere.
Exoplanet (Also known as Extrasolar planet)
It is any planet that orbits a star other than the Sun, they can orbit their stars at any distance.
Some of them orbit just at the right distance from star that they are in “habitable zone”, which means they have the right temperature to have liquid water at their surface.
Wolf 1061 system
It is an M class red dwarf star located 14 light years away in constellation Ophiuchus.
It has 3 planets called Wolf1061 b, Wolf 1061c and Wolf 1061d.
All there planets are super earths (Super-Earth is an exoplanet with a mass between 1 and 10 times that of Earth. The super-Earth classification refers only to the mass, and not surface conditions or habitability).
6.7. G-PROTEIN COUPLED RECEPTORS (GPCR)
Why in news?
Researchers from IIT Kanpur have found that regulation of GPCRs by the drug molecules can be far simpler than earlier thought by simply engaging with end (tail) of receptor.
Background
Presently, for any drug to be effective it has to bind at two sites of receptors – at the tail, outside the cell and at the core, present inside the cell.
However researchers were able to prove drug could be equally effective by just binding at one of the site i.e. at the tail of receptor. They through specific engineering, made the other site i.e. core of the receptor ineffective.
How GPCRs works?
Receptors are found on the cell surface with a part of it embedded in the cell membrane and other part protrudes outside membrane and inside of the cell.
These Receptors reacts to external stimuli by changing their shape which brings a corresponding change in the
shape of receptors inside the cell. This change in shape inside the cell allows the receptor to bind to a particular protein called G-Protein triggering a specific change in the cell which brings physiological changes in our body.(G- Proteins are a family of proteins, which act like a switch mechanism inside cell and is activated by GPCRs).
These external stimuli can be brought about by any hormones, drugs, photons, neurotransmitters, growth factors or glycoproteins.
In a person with high blood pressure, a prescribed drug binds to receptor and activates corresponding protein inside cell arrestins (effector proteins of these particular GPCRs). As a result arrestin pulls the receptor inside the cell (Process called receptor endocytosis). This prevents the angiotensin (hormone responsible for increasing blood pressure) from binding to the receptor even if it is present in blood and thus interrupts signaling process, thereby helping in controlling the blood pressure.
Significance
This research will help in designing simple, cheaper and more efficient drugs and thus provide better healthcare service.
Gives a ray of hope to researchers to provide effective cure to non-communicable disease like high BP, diabetes, heart failure, obesity, cancer and many other diseases that target GPCRs.
It can give a boost Indian to Indian Biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector.
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6.8. GRAVITATIONAL WAVE TELESCOPE: NGARI
Why in news?
China has started the construction of two-phase Ngari wave observatory in Ngari territory of Tibet close to Indian border, which will house world’s highest altitude Gravitational Wave Telescope.
The main aim of this project is to find more about the Big Bang theory which is about the birth and configuration of the cosmos.
Highlights of the Project
Phase 1 of the project consists of a telescope located at 5250m above sea level and expected to be operational by 2021.
It will be able to detect and gather data on gravitational waves in northern hemisphere.
Phase 2 consists of series of telescopes to be constructed at 6000m above sea level and will expand the observation frequency band to improve accuracy.
Ngari is one of the world’s best spot because of high altitude, clear skies and minimum human activity
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6.9. NASA MISSION TO EXPLORE ASTEROIDS
Why in news?
NASA has announced launch of two missions to explore asteroids in search of clues about early solar system.
The first mission named Lucy, scheduled to launch in 2021, will explore Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids while second named Psyche, to be launched in 2023, will explore a giant metal asteroid known as 16 Psyche.
Lucy is slated to arrive at its first destination, a main belt asteroid, in 2025. From 2027 to 2033, Lucy will
explore six Jupiter Trojan asteroids.
About 16 Psyche Asteroid
It is massive asteroid in the primary asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Its distance from the sun is three times the distance of the earth from the sun. It measures 130 miles (210 km) in diameter.
It is made of mostly iron and nickel, not ice and rock like other asteroids.
Some researchers think that it may be the exposed core of early planet that lost its rocky exterior during a series of violent collisions not long after it was formed.
Significance
This mission will help in gaining more information about our earth core like how it separated into layers of crusts, mantle and core.
It will also help in understanding how the sun and its family of planets formed, changed over time, and became places where life could develop and be sustained and what the future may hold.
(For information on Asteroids and Trojan asteroids refer to article 6.3 of December 2016 edition)
—Fig—
6.10. ASHALIM PROJECT
Why in news?
Israel is building its largest solar power station in Negev desert called
Ashalim Project.
Highlights of the Project
Ashalim solar Tower will be encircled with 55000 projecting mirrors
called Heliostat
It will house world tallest solar tower standing at 250 m (820 feet).
The project will generate 310 MW of power enough for 130,000
households.
It will use Solar-thermal method where these mirrors will focus sun’s rays to heat the boiler creating steam to spin turbine and generate electricity.
Significance of the project
It will help the country achieve its goal of generating 10 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Presently only 2.5% of its energy needs are met through renewable sources.
Locally, the plant would also provide long-term employment opportunities during construction, operation and maintenance of the facility.
Box–HELIOSTAT: It is an apparatus containing a movable or driven mirror, used to reflect sunlight in a fixed direction. As the sun moves across the sky, a heliostat makes small adjustments to the position of a mirror in order to keep reflected light on a target. The larger the mirror, the more energy and light is delivered to the target.
6.11. INDIA BECOMES AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF CERN
Why in News?
India became an associate member of CERN, after govt. completed approval procedures on the agreement it signed last year.
Background
India and CERN signed a Cooperation Agreement in 1991, setting priorities for scientific cooperation.
India’s involvement with CERN began in the 1960s with Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai,
participating in CERN experiments.
In the 1990s, scientists of Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore built accelerator components for CERN.
India was inducted as an observer in CERN in 2004.
India’s contribution to CERN
Many Indians have made contributed to the construction of the LHC accelerator, ALICE and CMS experiments at CERN.
Indian scientist’s role in LHC helped in the discovery of Higgs Boson.
In the field of large-scale computing, India has designed, developed and deployed software for the Worldwide Large Hadron Collider Grid (WLCG).
Significance of Associate member status
It will enhance participation of young scientists and engineers in various CERN projects.
This will also help bring back the knowledge gained in CERN to the domestic programmes.
Indian industry will be entitled to bid for CERN contracts directly, opening opportunities for in areas of advanced technology.
India can take part in meetings of the CERN Council and its committees (Finance Committee and Scientific Policy Committee).
Indian scientists will become eligible for staff appointments.
Way forward
Associate membership will cost about Rs 80 crores annually. Also India would not enjoy any voting rights like the members. But this membership is surely a step in the right direction to advance the scientific research in India and improve India’s stature at the global arena.
Box–CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research)
CERN is the world’s largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory,
At CERN, scientists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the Universe.
CERN is based in Geneva.
Presently CERN has 22 member states, four associate member states, and seven observers including four states and three International Organizations.
Projects at CERN ○Large Hadron Collider - The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. It aims to study the fundamentals of universe. ○Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) - It is a general-purpose detector at the LHC. Its studies the Standard Model (including the Higgs boson) It is also searching for extra dimensions and particles that make up dark matter.
○ALICE is the acronym for A Large Ion Collider Experiment.
It researches in the physics of matter at an infinitely small scale. Eg. Research on quarks which make protons and neutrons.
6.12. E-CIGARETTES
Why in News?
A study by University of California says that E-cigarettes are attracting a new population of adolescents who might not otherwise have smoked tobacco products.
Background
Supreme Court has banned orally ingested tobacco products recently.
Government has put high taxes on cigarettes.
The above steps seem to have pushed the sale of e-cigarettes.
Problems in E-cigarettes
There is no convincing evidence proving that e-cigarettes help quit smoking.
With different flavours, it may promote ‘nicotine addiction’ by inducing habit of smoking in non-smokers.
Some aerosols of the E-cigarettes have cancer causing agents like formaldehyde.
Nicotine is considered to promote cardiovascular diseases. Nicotine may also affect the brain development in foetuses.
India’s Position
WHO Global Report 2015 says that number of smokers in India is on the decline.
As e-cigarettes contain nicotine and not tobacco, these do not fall within the ambit of the COTPA Act 2003.
Most e-commerce websites sell e-
cigarettes as therapeutic products thus increasing appeal.
A committee in 2014 recommended to ban e-cigarettes having nicotine. Only few states banned it.
Lack of a uniform approach enables the sellers to exploit
loopholes. E.g. Punjab has classified nicotine as a poison,
while Maharashtra treats it as an unapproved drug.
What needs to be done?
WHO Report on the Regulation on ENDS recommends -
prohibit the addition of flavours to ENDS
ban the use of ENDS indoors and in public places
restrict its advertising, promotion, and sponsorship
Regulations to stop ENDS promotion to non-smokers and protect existing tobacco control efforts.
An independent scientific research is also needed to assess the benefits and risks of ENDS.
Way Forward
We have made remarkable progress in terms of tobacco control, but the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes threatens to undermine years of hard work. There is urgent need therefore to act now, to protect public health.
Box–1-E-cigarette is a type of Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).
It is a battery-powered device using electricity to vaporise a nicotine containing fluid.
These do not have tar like conventional cigarettes.
It resembles a cigarette by having a red LED to simulate the tip of a real cigarette.
It also produces a bluish vapour that resembles cigarette smoke.
It can be an Electronic non-nicotine delivery system (ENNDS) too where the liquid is not nicotine.
The liquid here is dissolved into propylene glycol or/and glycerine to create an aerosol.
WHO has termed both ENDS and ENNDS as ‘vaping’ — a ‘tobacco-free’ version of the cigarette in which a liquid is inhaled through a vaporiser.
Box–2-WHO FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON TOBACCO CONTROL (FCTC) 2003 WHO FCTC is the first global public health treaty in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic. It is legally binding to its members. India has also ratified it. Its recommends demand side measures of tobacco control like Price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco. Non-price measures like Packaging and labelling of tobacco products; public awareness and Tobacco advertising etc. It also gives some supply measures of tobacco control like preventing illicit tobacco trade; control sales to minors etc.
Box–3-Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act 2003
Section 5 prohibits all forms of advertisements (both direct and indirect) of tobacco products.
This Act mandates health warnings on the packaging and advertisements of tobacco products.
