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G a n e s h ’ s i a s
Table of Contents
1.M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers'-Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) 9
Aims of M-STrIPES 10
2.Recent Milestone Initiatives Taken for Conservation of Tiger and Other Wild Animals 10
Financial steps 10
International Cooperation 10
Reintroduction of Tigers 11
Creation of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) 11
Recent initiatives 12
Cyberplasm 13
Srinivasa Ramanujan 14
National Science Day 14
3. Aakash Tablet PC 15
National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NME ICT) 15
Ira and Ira Thing 15
4.Nuclear Reactors 16
Types of Reactors: 17
Alpha Particle 19
Becquerel (Bq) 19
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Beta particle 20
Curie (Ci) 20
Gray (Gy) 20
5.‘Hall of Nuclear Power’ 21
Nehru Science Centre Mumbai 21
6.Nuclear Suppliers Group 21
Zangger Committee 22
7.Ice Cube: World's largest neutrino observatory completed at South Pole 22
Cherenkov radiation 22
International Commission for Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) 23
8.INSAT-2E completes 13 years of Successful Operation 23
Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) 24
GSAT-12 24
Radar Imaging Satellite-1 (RISAT - 1) 24
9.Google 24
Android (Operating Systems) 25
Google Play 25
Facebook 25
Yahoo 25
Amazon.com 26
10.Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) 26
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) 26
11.AGNI –IV 27
Tessy Thomas 27
Agni-V 27
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MIRV (Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicles) 27
‘AKASH’ MISSILE 28
12.‘TAL’ TORPEDO 29
Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam 29
13.International symposium on vaccines 29
Vaccine Grand Challenge Programme (VGCP) 29
14.Chemical Weapons Convention 30
Key points of the Convention 31
National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) 31
Agent Orange 31
15.Perfomax 32
Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) 32
Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) Project 32
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) 33
16.2G 33
Advantages 33
Disadvantages 34
3G (Third Generation of Mobile Telephony) 34
17.Mobile Number Portability (MNP) 35
18.Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution 35
19.Malware, Viruses and Spyware 36
20.Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) 37
21.Lakshya-1 37
22.DRDO AEW&CS 37
23.Rafale edges out Euro fighter 38
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24.Pralay 38
25.Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS) 39
26.Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants 39
Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs) 40
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 40
All benefit, in many ways: 41
27.Cloud Computing 41
28.Operation Ghost Click 41
Botnet 42
DNSChanger Malware 42
29.Operation Global Blackout 2012 43
30.Neutrino 43
Pauli Exclusion Principle 44
Aufbau principle 44
Hund's Rule of Maximum Multiplicity 44
31.Lukoskin 44
Defence Institute of Bio-energy Research (DIBER) 45
Leucoderma or Vitiligo 45
Melanocyte 46
32.DNA FINGER PRINTING 46
Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) 47
33.World Sparrow Day 47
34.Bacillus thuringiensis 47
35.Tropical Legumes II 47
36.REXUS (Rocket-Borne Experiments for University Students) 48
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37.F. Sherwood Rowland 48
38.Nestlé India 49
Food and Energy 49
39.St. Martin's Island 52
40. Mithilanchal belt (Purnea, Araria and Supaul Districts) 52
41.Jawai Bandh forests 53
42.Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) 53
43.Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) 54
44.Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever 54
National Institute of Virology 55
1.M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers'-Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) 9
Aims of M-STrIPES 10
2.Recent Milestone Initiatives Taken for Conservation of Tiger and Other Wild Animals 10
Financial steps 10
International Cooperation 10
Reintroduction of Tigers 11
Creation of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) 11
Recent initiatives 12
Cyberplasm 13
Srinivasa Ramanujan 14
National Science Day 14
3. Aakash Tablet PC 15
National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NME ICT) 15
Ira and Ira Thing 15
4.Nuclear Reactors 16
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Types of Reactors: 17
Alpha Particle 19
Becquerel (Bq) 19
Beta particle 20
Curie (Ci) 20
Gray (Gy) 20
5.‘Hall of Nuclear Power’ 21
Nehru Science Centre Mumbai 21
6.Nuclear Suppliers Group 21
Zangger Committee 22
7.Ice Cube: World's largest neutrino observatory completed at South Pole 22
Cherenkov radiation 22
International Commission for Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) 23
8.INSAT-2E completes 13 years of Successful Operation 23
Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) 24
GSAT-12 24
Radar Imaging Satellite-1 (RISAT - 1) 24
9.Google 24
Android (Operating Systems) 25
Google Play 25
Facebook 25
Yahoo 25
Amazon.com 26
10.Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) 26
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) 26
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11.AGNI –IV 27
Tessy Thomas 27
Agni-V 27
MIRV (Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicles) 27
‘AKASH’ MISSILE 28
12.‘TAL’ TORPEDO 29
Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam 29
13.International symposium on vaccines 29
Vaccine Grand Challenge Programme (VGCP) 29
14.Chemical Weapons Convention 30
Key points of the Convention 31
National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) 31
Agent Orange 31
15.Perfomax 32
Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) 32
Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) Project 32
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) 33
16.2G 33
Advantages 33
Disadvantages 34
3G (Third Generation of Mobile Telephony) 34
17.Mobile Number Portability (MNP) 35
18.Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution 35
19.Malware, Viruses and Spyware 36
20.Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) 37
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21.Lakshya-1 37
22.DRDO AEW&CS 37
23.Rafale edges out Euro fighter 38
24.Pralay 38
25.Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS) 39
26.Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants 39
Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs) 40
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 40
All benefit, in many ways: 41
27.Cloud Computing 41
28.Operation Ghost Click 41
Botnet 42
DNSChanger Malware 42
29.Operation Global Blackout 2012 43
30.Neutrino 43
Pauli Exclusion Principle 44
Aufbau principle 44
Hund's Rule of Maximum Multiplicity 44
31.Lukoskin 44
Defence Institute of Bio-energy Research (DIBER) 45
Leucoderma or Vitiligo 45
Melanocyte 46
32.DNA FINGER PRINTING 46
Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) 47
33.World Sparrow Day 47
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34.Bacillus thuringiensis 47
35.Tropical Legumes II 47
36.REXUS (Rocket-Borne Experiments for University Students) 48
37.F. Sherwood Rowland 48
38.Nestlé India 49
Food and Energy 49
39.St. Martin's Island 52
40. Mithilanchal belt (Purnea, Araria and Supaul Districts) 52
41.Jawai Bandh forests 53
42.Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) 53
43.Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) 54
44.Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever 54
National Institute of Virology 55
•
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, BIO-TECHNOLOGY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 3 (Preliminary) - 2012
1. M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers'-Intensive Protection and Ecological Status)
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A new software monitoring system to improve the effectiveness of all
surveillance and ante-poaching interventions in the Project Tiger Reserve areas
called “Monitoring system for Tigers’ Intensive Protection and Ecological status”
(M-STrIPES) has been launched in Apr 2010 by Union Ministry of Environment and
Forests.
This system has been developed by the Wildlife Institute of India in
collaboration with the Zoological Society of London and the National Tiger
Conservation Authority.
Aims of M-STrIPES
Assist in Effective Patrolling & Protection
Evaluate Status & Trends of Carnivores &
Ungulates at Regular Intervals
Monitor Habitat Change
Evaluate Human Pressures
Generate Reports to Provide Quantitative
Information for Management Effectiveness
Assessment and Decision Making
2. Recent Milestone Initiatives Taken for Conservation of Tiger and Other Wild Animals
Financial steps
Financial and technical help is provided to the States under various
Centrally Sponsored Schemes, viz. Project Tiger and Integrated Development of
Wildlife Habitats for enhancing the capacity and infrastructure of the States for
providing effective protection to wild animals.
International Cooperation
1. India has a Memorandum of Understanding with Nepal on controlling
trans-boundary illegal trade in wildlife and conservation, apart from a
protocol on tiger conservation with China.
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2. A Global Tiger Forum of Tiger Range Countries has been created for
addressing international issues related to tiger conservation.
3. During the 14th meeting of the Conference of Parties to CITES, which was
held from 3rd to 15th June, 2007 at The Hague, India introduced a
resolution along with China, Nepal and the Russian Federation, with
directions to Parties with operations breeding tigers on a commercial scale,
for restricting such captive populations to a level supportive only to
conserving wild tigers. The resolution was adopted as a decision with
minor amendments. Further, India made an intervention appealing to China
to phase out tiger farming, and eliminate stockpiles of Asian big cats body
parts and derivatives. The importance of continuing the ban on trade of
body parts of tigers was emphasized.
4. Based on India’s strong intervention during the 58th meeting of the
Standing Committee of the CITES at Geneva from 6th to 10th July, 2009, the
CITES Secretariat issued notification to Parties for submitting reports
relating to compliance of Decisions 14.69 and 14.65 within 90 days with
effect from 20.10.2009 (Progress made on restricting captive breeding
operations of tigers etc.). During the 15th meeting of the Conference of
Parties, India intervened for retaining the Decision 14.69 dealing with
operations breeding tigers on a commercial scale.
Reintroduction of Tigers
1. As a part of active management to rebuild Sariska and Panna Tiger Reserves
where tigers have become locally extinct, reintroduction of tigers /
tigresses have been done.
2. Special advisories issued for in-situ build up of prey base and tiger
population through active management in tiger reserves having low
population status of tiger and its prey.
Creation of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF)
3. The policy initiatives announced by the Finance Minister in his Budget
Speech of 29.2.2008, interalia, contains action points relating to tiger
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protection. Based on the one time grant of Rs. 50.00 crore provided to the
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for raising, arming and
deploying a Special Tiger Protection Force, the proposal for the said force
has been approved by the competent authority for 13 tiger reserves. Rs.
93 lakhs each has been released to Corbett, Ranthambhore & Dudhwa Tiger
Reserve for creation of STPF during 2008-09. Since then, the guidelines of
the STPF have been revised for deploying forest personnel in place of Police
as an option-II, with scope for involving local people like the Van Gujjars.
4. In collaboration with TRAFFIC-INDIA, an online tiger crime data base has
been launched, and Generic Guidelines for preparation of reserve specific
Security Plan has been evolved.
Recent initiatives
1. Implementing a tripartite MOU with tiger States, linked to fund flows for
effective implementation of tiger conservation initiatives.
2. Rapid assessment of tiger reserves done.
3. Special crack teams sent to tiger reserves affected by left wing extremism
and low population status of tiger and its prey.
4. Chief Ministers of tiger States addressed at the level of the Minister of State
(Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests on urgent issues, viz.
implementation of the tripartite MOU, creation of the Tiger Conservation
Foundation, stepping up protection etc.
5. Chief Ministers of States having tiger reserves affected by left wing
extremism and low population status of tiger and its prey addressed for
taking special initiatives.
6. Steps taken for modernizing the infrastructure and field protection, besides
launching ‘M-STrIPES’ for effective field patrolling and monitoring.
7. Steps are being taken for involvement of Non-Governmental Experts the
ongoing all India tiger estimation.
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8. Special independent team sent to Similipal for assessing the status, besides
constituting State level Coordination Committee for redressing the
administrative problems.
9. Issue of tiger farming and trafficking of tiger body parts discussed at the
level of Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and
Forests with the Chinese Authorities.
10.Action taken for amending the Wildlife (Protection) Act to ensure effective
conservation.
11.Initiatives taken for improving the field delivery through capacity building
of field officials, apart from providing incentives.
12. Steps have taken for the independent Monitoring and Evaluation of tiger
reserves.
13. Action initiated for using Information Technology to strengthen
surveillance in tiger reserves.
14.Providing special assistance for mitigation of human-tiger conflicts in
problematic areas.
15.As an outcome of the fourth Trans-border Consultative Group Meeting held
in New Delhi, a joint resolution has been signed with Nepal for
biodiversity / tiger conservation.
Cyberplasm
It is a micro-scale biohybrid robot developed using principles of synthetic
biology.
Cyberplasm harnesses the power of synthetic biology at the cellular level by
integrating specific gene “parts” into bacteria, yeast and mammalian cells to carry
out device like functions.
The micro-robot, "Cyberplasm", would combine advanced microelectronics
with latest research in biomimicry -- technology inspired by nature.
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The aim is for Cyberplasm to have an electronic nervous system, "eye" and
"nose" sensors derived from mammalian cells, as well as artificial muscles that
use glucose as an energy source to propel.
Cyberplasm will be designed to mimic key functions of the sea lamprey, a
creature found mainly in the Atlantic Ocean. It is believed this approach will
enable the micro-robot to be extremely sensitive and responsive to the
environment it is put into.
Future uses could include the ability to swim unobtrusively through the
human body to detect a whole range of diseases.
Srinivasa Ramanujan
He was an Indian mathematician, who with almost no formal training
in pure mathematics, made extraordinary contributions to mathematical
analysis, number theory, infinite series and continued fractions.
According to the English mathematician G.H. Hardy, Ramanujan was in the
same league as mathematicians like Euler and Gauss in terms of natural genius.
In recognition of his contribution to mathematics, the Government of India
declared in Dec 2011 to celebrate Ramanujan's birthday as 'National Mathematics
Day' every year on 22 December and declared 2012 as the 'National
Mathematical Year'.
1729 is the natural number known as the Hardy–Ramanujan number. It is
the smallest number expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways."
The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan is
the biography of Srinivasa Ramanujan written in 1991 by Robert Kanigel.
National Science Day
National Science Day is celebrated in India on February 28 each year to
mark the discovery of the Raman Effect by Indian physicist Sir Chandrasekhara
Venkata Raman on 28 February 1928.
In 1986, the National Council for Science and Technology Communication
(NCSTC) requested the Government of India to designate February 28 as National
Science Day.
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Subsequently, the first NSD (National Science Day) on 28 February 1987,
the NCSTC announced institution of the National Science Popularization awards
for recognizing outstanding efforts in the area of science communication and
popularization.
The focal theme for 2012 National Science Day is “Clean Energy Options
and Nuclear Safety”
3. Aakash Tablet PCThe Aakash is an Android-based tablet computer produced by British
company DataWind. It is manufactured by the India-based company Quad, at a
new production centre in Hyderabad under a trial run of 100,000 units.
The tablet was officially launched as the Aakash in New Delhi on 5 October
2011.
The Aakash is a low-cost tablet computer with a 7-inch touch
screen, ARM 11 processor and 256 MB RAM running under the Android 2.2
operating system. It has two universal serial bus (USB) ports and delivers high
definition (HD) quality video.
National Mission on Education through Information and Communication
Technology (NME ICT)
The mission was launched in Feb. 2009. It has the objective of ensuring
connectivity of the learners to the ‘World of Knowledge’ in cyberspace and to
make them ‘Netizens’.
This is to enhance their self-learning skills and develop their capabilities for
on-line problem solving and to work for: creation of knowledge modules with
right contents to address to the personalized needs of learners; certification of
competencies of the learners, acquired through formal or non-formal means; and
to develop and maintain the database having profile of human resources.
Ira and Ira Thing
They are the two tablet PCs which support 23 Indian languages. They are
launched by Wishtel, a Mumbai-based company. They will operate on the Google
Android ecosystem.
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Ira was designed as per the specifications of the Indian Institute of
Technology Rajasthan, as part of the low-cost computing devices project under
the National Mission of Education through the ICT and sponsored by the Ministry
of Human Resources.
4. Nuclear ReactorsA nuclear reactor is a system where a controllable nuclear fission chain
reaction can be maintained. The principal parts of reactor are
The core: is the main part containing the nuclear fuel. The solid fuel
material is fabricated into various small shapes, plates, pellets, pins etc., which
are usually put together and called as sub-assemblies or bundles. Fuel elements:
A reactor core may contain from tens to hundreds of these fuels sub-assemblies,
held in a fixed geometrical pattern.
Moderator: The moderator is a material that has the ability to slow down
neutrons quickly and which at the same time has little tendency to absorb
neutrons. Moderator is used in thermal reactor to slow down the neutrons as the
fuel has high fission cross-section for low energy neutrons.
Materials used as moderators include ordinary water, heavy water,
graphite, beryllium and certain organic compounds. The moderator should be
well distributed within the fuel zone or core. In some reactors the fuel materials
and moderator materials are intimately mixed together.
Reflector: The reflector reduces the leakage of neutrons by reflecting back
the neutrons escaping from the core. The same material used for moderator can
be used for the reflectors in the case of thermal reactors. In the fast reactors
where fast neutrons are utilized for fission, nickel, molybdenum and stainless
steel reflectors are used.
The Cooling System: This system removes the heat released from the
reactor core. It consists of pipes through which the coolant is pumped. When
passing through the reactor cores, the coolant picks up the heat, transfers the
heat to another working medium through a heat exchanger and then returns to
the reactor. Gases, heavy and light water, and liquid metals such as sodium,
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lithium, potassium etc., can serve as coolants. In a reactor, we must be able to
control the amount of heat produced. The heat produced depends upon the
number of fissions taking place per second in the reactor, which in turn depends
upon the number of neutrons present in the reactor.
The Control System: The control system is designed to control the number
of neutrons, thus control the rate of the chain reaction and power level. This
system includes a number of devices, sensing elements that measure the number
of neutrons in the reactor, control rods containing strong neutron absorbers such
as cadmium or boron, and other devices to regulate the position of the control
rods. These neutron absorbing control rods when lowered into the reactor
absorb the neutrons to reduce the neutron population and when raised allow the
rise in number of neutrons. It is also possible to control a reactor by increasing or
decreasing its size. (Increasing the size reduces the leakage of neutrons and vice
versa). Hence some reactors are controlled by varying the level of moderator. In
the heavy water moderated reactors like Candu, a combination of moderator
level control and neutron absorber rods are used.
Protective Shield: The fission reaction is accompanied by emission of
radiation like α, β and γ. Exposure to these radiations is dangerous. In order to
protect the persons working near the reactor from these harmful radiations the
reactor is enclosed in steel and concrete which are capable of stopping these
radiations. This arrangement of protection is called Radiation shielding.
Types of Reactors:
Nuclear reactor may be classified according to the velocities of the
neutrons which cause fission as thermal reactors and fast reactors.
Thermal Reactors: A reactor where the fission is mainly caused by the
capture of thermal i.e., slow neutrons of energies up to 0.025eV is called thermal
reactor. To slow down the neutrons, some moderator is used.
Fast Reactors: A reactor where fission is brought about by fast neutrons
with energies more than 1000eV is called a fast reactor. Since the fission is
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caused by the fast neutrons with high energy moderator is not used in fast
reactors.
Reactors are classified according to secondary features as the type of
moderator, coolant, etc.
Graphite reactors and heavy-water reactors - they use graphite and heavy-
water respectively as moderators.
Liquid metal cooled reactor - liquid metals like sodium, potassium, lithium
etc., are used as coolants.
Gas Cooled Reactor - gas like CO2, Helium etc., are used as coolants.
Reactor classification based on purpose:
Power Reactors: The reactors used for generating electrical power. E.g.
MAPS, PFBR, TAPS, RAPS etc.
Research Reactors: These reactors are mainly used for research purpose.
E.g. FBTR, Kamini, Apsara etc.
Boiling Water Reactor (BWR):
In this reactor the enriched uranium oxide is used as the fuel and light
water is used as the coolant and moderator. This is a thermal reactor.
The water is circulated by a pump and the water boils in the reactor vessel
itself. The steam produced is fed directly to turbine. In BWR, the steam is
generated in the core itself.
The reactor pressure vessel has to be strong and is enclosed in concrete
containment vessel to prevent hazard from the failure of the pressurised circuit.
The exhaust steam from turbine is condensed and the condensate is sent
back to the reactor core through a feed pump. Another pump is used for
recirculating the coolant in the reactor vessel before converting to steam.
In Tarapur Atomic power station two BWRs are used for power generation
of 210MWe each.
Pressurized water reactor (PWR):
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PWRs keep water under pressure so that it gets heat, but does not boil.
Water from the reactor and the water in the steam generator that is turned into
steam never mix. In this way, most of the radioactivity stays in the reactor area.
KAMINI (Kalpakkam Mini Reactor)
It is a research reactor at Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic
Research in Kalpakkam, India. Its first criticality was on October 29, 1996. It
produces 30 kW of thermal energy at full power.
KAMINI is cooled and moderated by light water, and fueled with uranium-
233 metal produced by the irradiation of thorium in other reactors.
KAMINI was the first reactor in the world designed specifically to use
uranium-233 fuel.
Alpha Particle
A positively charged particle ejected spontaneously from the nuclei of some
radioactive elements.
It is identical to a helium nucleus that has a mass number of 4 and an
electrostatic charge of +2. It has low penetrating power and a short range (a few
centimeters in air).
The most energetic alpha particle will generally fail to penetrate the dead
layers of cells covering the skin, and can be easily stopped by a sheet of paper.
Alpha particles are hazardous when an alpha-emitting isotope is inside the body.
Becquerel (Bq)
One of three units used to measure radioactivity, which refers to the
amount of ionizing radiation released when an element (such as uranium)
spontaneously emits energy as a result of the radioactive decay (or disintegration)
of an unstable atom.
Radioactivity is also the term used to describe the rate at which radioactive
material emits radiation, or how many atoms in the material decay (or
disintegrate) in a given time period.
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As such, 1 Bq represents a rate of radioactive decay equal to 1
disintegration per second, and 37 billion (3.7 x 1010) Bq equals 1 curie (Ci).
Beta particle
A charged particle (with a mass equal to 1/1837 that of a proton) that is
emitted from the nucleus of a radioactive element during radioactive (or
disintegration) of an unstable atom.
A negatively charged beta particle is identical to an electron, while a
positively charged beta particle is called a positron.
Large amounts of beta radiation may cause skin burns, and beta emitters
are harmful if they enter the body. Beta particles may be stopped by thin sheets
of metal or plastic.
Curie (Ci)
One of three units used to measure the intensity of radioactivity in a
sample of material. This value refers to the amount of ionizing radiation released
when an element (such as uranium) spontaneously emits energy as a result of
the radioactive decay (or disintegration) of an unstable atom.
As such, 1 Ci is equal to 37 billion (3.7 x 1010) disintegrations per second, so
1 Ci also equals 37 billion (3.7 x 1010) Bequerels (Bq). A curie is also a quantity of
anyradionuclide that decays at a rate of 37 billion disintegrations per second (1
gram of radium, for example).
The curie is named for Marie and Pierre Curie, who discovered radium in
1898.
Gray (Gy)
One of the two units used to measure the amount of radiation absorbed by
an object or person, known as the "absorbed dose," which reflects the amount of
energy that radioactive sources (with any type of ionizing radiation) deposit in
materials (e.g., water, tissue, air) through which they pass.
One gray (Gy) is the international system of units (SI) equivalent of
100 rads, which is equal to an absorbed dose of 1 Joule/kilogram. An absorbed
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dose of 0.01 Gy means that 1 gram of material absorbed 100 ergs of energy (a
small but measurable amount) as a result of exposure to radiation.
5. ‘Hall of Nuclear Power’It is India’s first-ever permanent exhibition on nuclear power dedicated to
the nation at Nehru Science Centre Mumbai. The permanent exhibition on
nuclear power is a proud addition to the Nehru Science Centre in its silver jubilee
year.
It covers almost all the aspects of nuclear energy, which include extensive
information about nuclear power generation, its basics, productions, fuel
processing, transportation, safety, security, nuclear waste and its management.
Also, it talks about the non-power application which includes nuclear medicines,
food irradiation technology, etc.
Nehru Science Centre Mumbai
Nehru Science Centre is the largest Science Centre in India. It one of the
largest science centers in Asia, is a constituent unit of National Council of Science
Museums (NCSM). The centre opened its first semi-permanent exhibition `Light &
Sight' in 1977 followed by the world's first ever Science Park in 1979, during the
International Year of the child. It is celebrating its silver jubilee.
6. Nuclear Suppliers GroupNSG is a multinational body concerned with reducing nuclear
proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that may be
applicable to nuclear development and by improving safeguards and protection
on existing materials.
The NSG was created following the explosion in 1974 of a nuclear device by
a non-nuclear-weapon State (India), which demonstrated that nuclear technology
transferred for peaceful purposes could be misused.
The test demonstrated that certain non-weapons specific nuclear
technology could be readily turned to weapons development. Nations already
signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)saw the need to further
limit the export of nuclear equipment, materials or technology.
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Zangger Committee
The Zangger Committee was formed in the early 1970s to establish
guidelines for implementing the export control provisions of the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty.
The list of controlled items developed by the Zangger Committee is known
as the Trigger List because export of those items triggers International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.
7. Ice Cube: World's largest neutrino observatory completed at South PoleIt is a neutrino telescope constructed at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole
Station completed in 2010.
Members of the Ice Cube Collaboration are about 40 affiliated institutions
located in the U.S., Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Barbados, Canada, Japan, New
Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Ice Cube is supported largely by the National Science Foundation and led by
the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
When neutrinos collide with the nuclei of oxygen atoms in the ice, they
turn into energetic charged particles called muons, moving in the same direction.
Because these muons (and other debris from the collision) are moving
faster than light can travel through ice, they radiate a shock wave of blue
Cherenkov radiation visible to Ice Cube’s photo detectors.
Cherenkov radiation
It is electromagnetic radiation emitted when a charged particle (such as
an electron) passes through a dielectric medium at a speed greater than
the phase velocity of light in that medium.
The charged particles polarize the molecules of that medium, which then
turn back rapidly to their ground state, emitting radiation in the process.
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The characteristic blue glow of nuclear reactors is due to Cherenkov
radiation. It is named after Russian scientist Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov, the
1958 Nobel Prize winner who was the first to characterize it rigorously.
International Commission for Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)
ICNIRP is a nonprofit making body and is legally registered as such in
Germany. ICNIRP is independent from industry in both membership and funding.
ICNIRP seeks to provide a service of information provision or advice to all
persons, whether professionally involved with non-ionizing radiation protection
or with a personal interest.
ICNIRP's information and advice is provided, wherever possible, at no cost
to the recipient.
ICNIRP's members are independent experts in the scientific disciplines
necessary for non-ionizing radiation protection. In carrying out their voluntary
work for the Commission they do not represent either their countries of origin or
their institutes.
ICNIRP works in close collaboration with many health protection related
agencies both national and international, including, for
example, WHO, ILO, ICOH, IRPA and EUROSKIN.
8. INSAT-2E completes 13 years of Successful OperationINSAT-2E, the last of the five satellites in the INSAT-2 series, is a multi -
purpose satellite for telecommunication, television broadcasting and
meteorological services.
INSAT-2E was built with a planned mission life of 12 years and continued to
function beyond its mission life.
Launched on April 3, 1999 by the European Ariane-5 launcher, INSAT-2E
was positioned at 83 deg East longitude in the geostationary orbit. It was
controlled from Master Control Facility at Hassan.
11 communication transponders of 36 MHz bandwidth onboard INSAT-2E
satellite were leased to International Telecommunication Satellite Organisation
(INTELSAT), the first such lease from an Indian satellite.
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Indian National Satellite System (INSAT)
The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) systems which are placed in Geo-
stationary orbits are one of the largest domestic communication satellite systems
in Asia-Pacific region.
Established in 1983 with commissioning of INSAT-1B, it initiated a major
revolution in India’s communications sector and sustained the same later.
INSAT space segment consists of 24 satellites out of which 10 are in service
(INSAT-2E, INSAT-3A, INSAT-4B, INSAT-3C, INSAT-3E, KALPANA-1, INSAT-4A,
INSAT-4CR, GSAT-8 and GSAT-12).
The system with a total of 187 transponders in the C, Extended C and Ku-
bands provides services to telecommunications, television broadcasting, weather
forecasting, disaster warning and Search and Rescue operations.
GSAT-12
It is the latest communication satellite built by ISRO, weighs about 1410 kg
at lift-off. It was launched from Sriharihota by the PSLV- C17.
GSAT-12 is configured to carry 12 Extended C-band transponders to meet
the country's growing demand for transponders in a short turn-around-time.
The 12 Extended C-band transponders of GSAT-12 will augment the
capacity in the INSAT system for various communication services like Tele-
education, Telemedicine and for Village Resource Centres (VRC).
Radar Imaging Satellite-1 (RISAT - 1)
RISAT-1 is a microwave remote sensing satellite carrying a Synthetic
Aperture Radar (SAR). The satellite weighing around 1850 kg is slated for launch
by PSLV-C19 (XL) during 2012 into a 536 km orbit with 25 days repetitivity with an
added advantage of 12 days inner cycle for Coarse Resolution ScanSAR mode.
The satellite would be used for disaster prediction and agriculture forestry,
and the high resolution pictures and microwave imaging could also be used for
defence purposes. This satellite can see through clouds and fog, day and night.
9. Google
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It is an American multinational Internet and software corporation
specialized in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies.
The company was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were
both attending Stanford University.
Android (Operating Systems)
Android is a Linux-based operating system for mobile devices such as smart
phones and tablet computers. It is developed by the Open Handset Alliance led
by Google.
Google Play
It is a digital content service from Google which includes an online store for
music, movies, books, and Android apps and games, as well as a cloud media
player.
The service is accessible from the web, mobile app Play Store on Android,
and Google TV. Purchased content is available across all of these
platforms/devices.
Google Play was introduced in March 2012 when Google rebranded its
predecessor Android Market and Google Music services.
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February
2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook Inc.
Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg with his college roommates
and fellow students Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes.
Facebook filed for an initial public offering on February 1, 2012.
Yahoo
It is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered
in Sunnyvale, California.
Yahoo! Inc. was founded by Jerry Yang and David Filo in January 1994 and
was incorporated on March 1, 1995.
On January 4, 2012, Scott Thompson, former President of PayPal, was
named the new chief executive officer.
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Amazon.com
It is an American multinational electronic commerce company with
headquarters in Seattle. It is the world's largest online retailer.
Jeff Bezos created Amazon.com, Inc. in 1994, and the site went online in
1995. It is named after the Amazon River, one of the largest rivers in the world.
Using high-tech sonar, an expedition spearheaded by Mr. Bezos has
discovered what he claimed were discarded engines of Apollo 11, the moon
mission of Neel Armstrong.
10.Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) GPON technology indigenously designed and developed by the Centre for
Development of Telematics (C-DOT).
GPON technology is the pivotal component required for broadband
connectivity over optical fiber. It can be used to provide triple play (voice, video
and data).
It consists of a central office equipment OLT (Optical Line Termination) and
customer premises equipment called ONT (Optical Network Termination).
The information from central office to the customer premises and back,
flows through optical fiber cable, which is essentially a light pipe. Light energy
flows through this pipe and carries large amounts of data.
The information carrying capacity of an optical fiber is practically limitless.
The present GPON standards specify 2.5 Gbps (Gigabit per Second) downstream
and 1.25 Gbps upstream data capability to customer premise.
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)
C-DOT is the Telecom Technology development centre of the Government
of India. It was established in August 1984 as an autonomous body.
It was vested with full authority and total flexibility to develop state-of-the-
art telecommunication technology to meet the needs of the Indian
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telecommunication network. The key objective was to build a centre for
excellence in the area of telecom technology.
11.AGNI –IV Agni-IV is the fourth in the Agni series of missiles which was earlier known
as Agni II prime. Agni-IV was tested on November 15, 2011.
It has a range of 2,500-3,500 km. It is a two-stage missile powered by solid
propellant.
The Agni series is one of five missiles being developed by the DRDO under
an Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme launched in 1983.
Tessy Thomas
She is the project director of the 3,500-km new-generation Agni-IV missile.
She was the first to become the project director of an Agni system in 2008.
Agni-V
It is the most-ambitious strategic missile of India with the range of 5,000-
km. India has begun final preparations for the first test of Agni-V.
The Agni-V is a three stage solid fueled missile with composite motor casing
in the third stage.
The Agni-V will bring the whole of Asia, 70% of Europe and other regions
under its strike envelope.
Once the three-stage missile becomes operational by 2014-2015 after "four
to five repeatable tests", India will break into the exclusive ICBM (intercontinental
ballistic missile) club that counts just US, Russia, China, France and UK as its
members.
MIRV (Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicles)
MIRV warhead is a collection of nuclear weapons carried on a
single intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or a submarine-launched ballistic
missile (SLBM).
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Using a MIRV warhead, a single launched missile can strike several targets
individually, or fewer targets redundantly. By contrast a unitary warhead is a
single warhead on a single missile. This is to be developed and used in the Agni V
system.
‘AKASH’ MISSILE
The Akash Weapon System (AWS) was indigenously developed by
DRDO as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)
and is an all-weather, medium-range, Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system.
It provides multi-directional and multi-target area defence.
The Akash missile can be launched from static or mobile platforms providing
flexible deployment.
The system can handle multiple targets and destroy maneuvering targets
such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), fighter aircraft, cruise missiles and
missiles launched from helicopters.
It can operate autonomously, and engage and neutralize different aerial
targets simultaneously. The Weapon System is considered as the Indian "Patriot".
It has certain unique characteristics like high mobility, all-the-way powered
flight till target interception, multiple target handling, digitally-coded command
guidance and fully automatic operation.
The AWS consists of a Launcher, a missile with a 25 km range, control
centre, multifunction fire control radar and supporting ground equipment. It can
fly at a speed of up to Mach 2.5 and climb up to an altitude of 18 km.
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Name Type Range Fuel
Agni-I MRBM 700 – 1,200 km Single stage soli propelled
Agni-II IRBM 2,000 – 2,500 km Two stage solid propellant engine
Agni-III IRBM 3,000 – 5,000 km Two stage solid propellant engine
Agni-IV IRBM 3,200 – 3,700 km Two stage solid propellant engine
Agni-V ICBM 5,000-6,000 km (under development). Three stage solid
G a n e s h ’ s i a s
A versatile and wholly indigenous weapon system being built by the
Defence PSU Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL), the Akash SAM systems will be the
mainstay for Air Defence of the Country up to the 2030s & beyond.
12.‘TAL’ TORPEDOThe Light Weight Torpedo has been indigenously developed by the National
Science and Technology Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam.
The Light Weight Torpedo (TAL) is an electrically propelled, self- homing
Torpedo which can be launched both from ships and helicopters.
It can hunt submarines with a speed of 33 knots with endurance of six
minutes in shallow and deep waters.
The Torpedo weighs around 220 kgs. BDL is manufacturing these Torpedoes
at its Visakhapatnam Unit.
Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam
It was established on August 20, 1969 to undertake research and
development of complete major naval systems (Underwater Mines, Torpedoes,
Fire Control Systems, Weapon Launchers, Targets, Decoys, etc) for the Indian
Navy to make it self-reliant.
NSTL was established to work towards design and development of
underwater weapons and associated systems and structural design of naval
platforms. The present director of NSTL is Shri. S. V. Rangarajan.
13.International symposium on vaccinesThe Ministry of Science and Technology conducted the International
symposium on vaccines at Surajkund. This is the first of its kind symposium in
India under its new initiative called 'Vaccine Grand Challenge Program'.
The title of the symposium is “Vaccines – from Discovery to Translation.”
Vaccine Grand Challenge Programme (VGCP)
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The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) initiated this programme to
develop vaccines through National Jai Vigyan Mission Programme on S&T for
generation of new vaccines.
VGCP is based on an enterprise model for R&D, globally recommended in
contrast to the traditional scientific project funding as vaccine development is a
long, multi stage process where critical actions must be taken in synergy and not
sequentially.
The key steps in the process are (i) Develop specific candidates, create a
pipeline as one does not always know which one will work (ii) Create a stable
formulation under GMP (iii) Conduct toxicological tests in animals (iv) Ensure
human safety (v) Prove efficacy in humans (vi) Establish reproducible
manufacturing under GMP (vii) Obtain regulatory approvals (viii) Conduct post
market monitoring for rare but serious side effects.
14.Chemical Weapons ConventionIt is an arms control agreement which outlaws the production, stockpiling
and use of chemical weapons. It is the Convention on the Prohibition of the
Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their
Destruction.
The agreement is administered by the Organisation for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which is an independent organization based in The
Hague, Netherlands.
On September 3, 1992 the Conference on Disarmament submitted to the
U.N. General Assembly its annual report, which contained the text of the
Chemical Weapons Convention.
The General Assembly approved the Convention on November 30, 1992,
and The U.N. Secretary-General then opened the Convention for signature in Paris
on January 13, 1993. The CWC remained open for signature until its entry into
force on April 29, 1997, 180 days after the deposit of the 65th instrument of
ratification (by Hungary).
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The convention augments the Geneva Protocol of 1925 for chemical
weapons and includes extensive verification measures such as on-site inspections.
It does not, however, cover biological weapons.
Key points of the Convention
Prohibition of production and use of chemical weapons
Destruction (or monitored conversion to other functions) of chemical
weapons production facilities
Destruction of all chemical weapons (including chemical weapons
abandoned outside the state parties territory)
Assistance between State Parties and the OPCW in the case of use of
chemical weapons
An OPCW inspection regime for the production of chemicals which might
be converted to chemical weapons
International cooperation in the peaceful use of chemistry in relevant areas
National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC)
The National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) has
been set up as an office of the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India to fulfill,
on behalf of the Government of India, the obligations under the Chemical
Weapons Convention and to act as the national focal point for effective liaison
with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and other
State Parties on matters relating to the Convention.
The CWC came into force with effect from April 29, 1997 and the NA CWC
was first constituted by a resolution and then established under Section 6 of the
CWC Act, 2000
The primary task of the NA CWC is to fulfill, on behalf of the Government
of India, the obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention. The NA CWC
also acts as the national focal point for effective liaison with the OPCW and other
State Parties on matters relating to the CWC.
Agent Orange
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Agent Orange is the code name for one of
the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal
warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to
1971.
A 50:50 mixture of 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D, it was manufactured for the U.S.
Department of Defenseprimarily by Monsanto Corporation and Dow Chemical.
Vietnam in June 2011 kicked off the first phase of a joint plan with former
enemy the United States to clean up environmental damage leftover from the
chemical defoliant Agent Orange, a lasting legacy from the Vietnam War.
The project concentrates on a former U.S. military base in central Vietnam
where the herbicide was stored during the war, which ended more than three
decades ago. It marks the first time the two sides will work together on the
ground to clean up contamination.
Vietnam's Ministry of Defence will begin sweeping areas around the
Danang airport for unexploded ordnance. It will then work with the U.S. Agency
for International Development to remove dioxin from soil and sediment at the
site, which is expected to begin early next year.
15.PerfomaxA composite herbal formulation named ‘Perfomax’ that has been
developed by DRDO and has been found to improve physical and mental
performance in High Altitude and Hypoxic Conditions at a function held in Leh,
Ladakh today.
The formulation is rich in antioxidants and other bioactive compounds that
improve performance of brain, heart, kidney and lungs and improves blood
circulation.
Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR)
Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (erstwhile Field Research
Laboratory) is only one of its kind situated in Leh at an altitude of 3500 m above
MSL, having core competence in cold arid agro-animal technology in the world.
Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) Project
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ISEA Project was launched by the Department of Information Technology,
in March 2005 with the following broad aims:-
(a) Introduce Information Security Curriculum at M.Tech & B.Tech level and
Research Activity/PhD
(b) Train System Administrators/Professionals
(c) Training of Government Officers- Central and State, on Information Security
issues i.e. computer networking, cyber hygiene, data security etc.
(d) Bring Information Security Awareness in the country
(e) Education Exchange Programme
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)
CERT In is spreading awareness among users on the spread of computer
virus and safeguarding from such attacks through issuance of advisories and
guidelines.
A web portal “Secure your PC” has also been provided to general users by
CERT-In for dissemination of information on securing their computer system from
cyber attacks.
16.2G"2G" means second-generation wireless telephone technology. 2G cellular
telecom networks were commercially launched on the GSM standard in Finland in
1991.
Three primary benefits of 2G networks over their predecessors were that
Phone conversations were digitally encrypted;
2G systems were significantly more efficient on the spectrum allowing for
far greater mobile phone penetration levels; and
2G introduced data services for mobile, starting with SMS text messages.
Advantages
The lower power emissions helped address health concerns.
Going all-digital allowed for the introduction of digital data services, such as
SMS and email.
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Greatly reduced fraud. With analog systems it was possible to have two or
more "cloned" handsets that had the same phone number.
Enhanced privacy. A key digital advantage not often mentioned is that
digital cellular calls are much harder to eavesdrop on by use of radio scanners.
While the security algorithms used have proved not to be as secure as initially
advertised, 2G phones are immensely more private than 1G phones, which
have no protection against eavesdropping.
Disadvantages
In less populous areas, the weaker digital signal may not be sufficient to
reach a cell tower. This tends to be a particular problem on 2G systems
deployed on higher frequencies, but is mostly not a problem on 2G systems
deployed on lower frequencies. National regulations differ greatly among
countries which dictate where 2G can be deployed.
Analog has a smooth decay curve, digital a jagged steppy one. This can be
both an advantage and a disadvantage. Under good conditions, digital will
sound better. Under slightly worse conditions, analog will experience static,
while digital has occasional dropouts (momentary loss of signal). As conditions
worsen, though, digital will start to completely fail, by dropping calls or being
unintelligible, while analog slowly gets worse, generally holding a call longer
and allowing at least a few words to get through.
While digital calls tend to be free of static and background noise, the lossy
compression ("lossy" compression is a data encoding method that compresses
data by discarding (losing) some of it) used by the codecs takes a toll; the
range of sound that they convey is reduced. You will hear less of the tonality of
someone's voice talking on a digital cellphone, but you will hear it more
clearly.
3G (Third Generation of Mobile Telephony)
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3rd generation mobile telecommunications is a generation of standards
for mobile phones and mobile telecommunication services fulfilling
the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specifications by
the International Telecommunication Union.
17.Mobile Number Portability (MNP) It is a service using which a mobile phone subscriber can migrate from one
operator to another without having to change his/her mobile number.
18.Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution
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Also known as Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS) is a digital mobile phone technology
that allows improved data transmission rates.
It is a faster version of GSM. EDGE is a high-speed 3G technology that was
built upon the GSM standard.
EDGE networks are designed to deliver multimedia applications such as
streaming television, audio and video to mobile phones at speeds up to 384 Kbps.
Such speeds still pale in comparison, though, to standard DSL and high-speed
cable access today.
EDGE delivers a boost of more than three times the capacity and
performance over GSM.
19.Malware, Viruses and Spyware "Malware" is short for malicious software and is typically used as a catch-all
term to refer to any software designed to cause damage to a single computer,
server, or computer network, whether it's a virus, spyware, et al.
A virus is a program or programming code that replicates by being copied
or initiating its copying to another program, computer boot sector or document.
Viruses can be transmitted as attachments to an e-mail note or in a downloaded
file, or be present on a diskette or CD.
A Trojan horse, or Trojan, is a standalone malicious program which may
give full control of infected PC to another PC. It may also perform typical
computer virus activities. Trojan horses may make copies of them, steal
information, or harm their host computer systems.
A Trojan may give a hacker remote access to a targeted computer system.
Once a Trojan has been installed on a targeted computer system, hackers may be
given remote access to the computer allowing them to perform all kinds of
operations.
Spyware is a type of malware (malicious software) installed
on computers that collects information about users without their knowledge. The
presence of spyware is typically hidden from the user and can be difficult to
detect. Spyware is often secretly installed on a user's personal computer without
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their knowledge. However, some spyware such as key loggers may be installed by
the owner of a shared, corporate, or public computer on purpose in order to
intentionally monitor users.
20.Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)ICANN is a nonprofit private organization that was created in 1988 to
oversee a number of Internet-related tasks previously performed directly on
behalf of the U.S. government by other organizations, notably the Internet
Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which ICANN now operates.
ICANN is responsible for the coordination of the global Internet's systems
of unique identifiers and, in particular, ensuring its stable and secure operation.
This work includes coordination of the Internet Protocol address spaces
(IPv4 and IPv6) and assignment of address blocks to regional Internet registries.
21.Lakshya-1It is an Indian remotely piloted high speed target Aircraft system developed
by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of DRDO.
The drone, remote piloted by a ground control station provides realistic
towed aerial sub-targets for live fire training. The drone is ground or ship
launched from a zero length launcher and recovery is by a two stage parachute
system.
The advanced version of pilotless target aircraft (PTA) Lakshya-II was again
successfully flight- tested at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) on 27th January,
2012.
22.DRDO AEW&CSThe Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) is a project
of India's Defence Research & Development Organization to develop an AWACS
system for the Indian Air Force.
Primary responsibility for the project was with DRDO's Bangalore-
based Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), which led the design, system
integration and testing of the system.
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LRDE was responsible for the design of the radar array. Defence Electronics
Application Laboratory, based in Dehradun, was responsible for the Data Link and
Communication Systems for AEW&CS.
The DRDO AEWACS program aims to deliver three radar-equipped
surveillance aircraft to the Indian Air Force. The aircraft platform selected was
the Embraer ERJ 145.
Three ERJ 145 were procured from Embraer at a cost of US $ 300 Million,
including the contracted modifications to the airframe. The project goal was to
deploy these AEW&C aircraft by 2013.
23.Rafale edges out Euro fighterIndia selected the French Fighter Rafale over the Euro fighter Typhoon for
the supply of 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA). This is India's
largest defence deal to date.
Cassidian — the defence and security division of the European Aeronautic
Defence and Space Company, which manufactures the Typhoon
EADS is financed by a four-nation consortium that includes Britain,
Germany, Spain and Italy)
The two aircraft were chosen from a list of
six, including U.S. Boeing (F/A18) and Lockheed
Martin (F-16), Russian MiG-35 and Swedish Saab
(Gripen).
Though the Eurofighter was a more
advanced, younger and more modern aircraft, the
fact that France has a permanent UN Security
Council seat tipped the balance in favour of Rafale.
24.PralayThe IAF’s Eastern Air Command commenced Exercise codenamed “Pralay’
on 29th February 2012 in the Brahmaputra and rest of the Eastern region of India.
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Maximum speed: Mach 0.7
Range: 150 km
Service ceiling: 9000 m
(5000 m with towed sub-
target)
Rate of climb: 25 m/s ()
G a n e s h ’ s i a s
The exercise involves joint Army Air operations by the IAF’s Eastern Air
Command and Eastern Command of the Indian Army.
This is an annual exercise aimed at testing the combat potential of the Air
Force in various roles such as Air Defence, Ground Support operations, Counter
Air Operations, Electronic Warfare, Joint Operations with the Army including
special operations by day and night.
25.Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS)An e-governance initiative of the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
It is an innovative initiative launched by the Department of Health and Family
Welfare in January last year, is aimed at tracking pregnant women throughout
their pregnancy period and providing medical services to them as per the
guidelines of the World Health Organisation.
It also tracks children until they get full immunization. The MCTS is
designed to collate information of all pregnant women and infants so as to ensure
delivery of maternal and child health services from conception till 42 days after
delivery in the case of pregnant women and up to five years of age in the case of
children so as to ensure that all pregnant women and all new born receive full
maternal and immunization services.
"MCTS marks a paradigm shift in the approach towards monitoring health
and family welfare programmes as it is aimed at ensuring complete delivery of
maternal and child health services to all pregnant women and new born in an
effort to reduce maternal, infant and child mortality in the country".
Through MCTS, the Central government is making efforts to institutionalize
the beneficiary based approach of monitoring health and family welfare services'
delivery.
26.Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic PollutantsIt is an international environmental treaty, signed in 2001 and effective
from May 2004, that aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of
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persistent organic pollutants (POPs). As of April, 2011, there are 173 parties to the
Convention.
The fifth Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) was held in Geneva in April 2011.
• Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs)
POPs are organic compounds that are resistant to environmental
degradation through chemical, biological, and photolytic processes.
Because of this, they have been observed to persist in the environment, to
be capable of long-range transport, bioaccumulate in human and animal tissue,
biomagnify in food chains, and to have potential significant impacts on human
health and the environment.
Some of the chemical characteristics of POPs include low water solubility,
high lipid solubility, semi-volatility, and high molecular masses. POPs are
frequently halogenated, usually with chlorine. The more chlorine groups the POPs
have, the more resistant it is to being broken down over time.
One important factor of their chemical properties such as lipid solubility
results in the ability to pass through biological phospholipid membranes and
bioaccumulate in the fatty tissues of living organisms.
• International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
After seven years of negotiations, the FAO Conference adopted the
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, in
November 2001. The Treaty came into force on 29 June 2004, ninety days after
forty governments had ratified it.
This legally-binding Treaty covers all plant genetic resources relevant for
food and agriculture. It is in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The Treaty is vital in ensuring the continued availability of the plant genetic
resources that countries will need to feed their people. We must conserve for
future generations the genetic diversity that is essential for food and agriculture.
Its objectives are the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic
resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits
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derived from their use, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity,
for sustainable agriculture and food security.
• All benefit, in many ways:
Farmers and their communities, through Farmers' Rights; Consumers,
because of a greater variety of foods, and of agriculture products, as well as
increased food security;
The scientific community, through access to the plant genetic resources
crucial for research and plant breeding;
International Agricultural Research Centres, whose collections the Treaty
puts on a safe and long-term legal footing;
Both the public and private sectors, which are assured access to a wide
range of genetic diversity for agricultural development; and
The environment, and future generations, because the Treaty will help
conserve the genetic diversity necessary to face unpredictable environmental
changes, and future human needs.
27.Cloud Computing It is a technology that uses the internet and central remote servers to
maintain data and applications. Cloud computing allows consumers and
businesses to use applications without installation and access their personal files
at any computer with internet access. This technology allows for much more
efficient computing by centralizing storage, memory, processing and bandwidth.
28.Operation Ghost ClickIt is a two-year investigation of a criminal gang based in Estonia. The long-
living botnet of more than 4,000,000 bots was taken down by the FBI and
Estonian police in cooperation with a cohort of international partners.
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The botnet spread over 100 countries, affected some 4 to 5 million victims,
and generated $14 million.
The gang of six Estonians - and a Russian who remains at large - are accused
of running a botnet of more than four million virus-infected computers in 100
countries.
They allegedly used their control of the machines to redirect users from
websites such as Apple's iTunes Store and Amazon to ones that would serve up
advertising, for which the gang would receive a referral fee.
• Botnet
A botnet is a collection of compromised computers, each of which is known
as a 'bot', connected to the Internet.
When a computer is compromised by an attacker, there is often code
within the malware that commands it to become part of a botnet.
The "botmaster" or "bot herder" controls these compromised computers
via standards-based network protocols such as IRC and http.
• DNSChanger Malware
DNS (Domain Name System) is an Internet service that converts user-
friendly domain names into the numerical Internet protocol (IP) addresses that
computers use to talk to each other.
When you enter a domain name, such as www.fbi.gov, in your web browser
address bar, your computer contacts DNS servers to determine the IP address for
the website. Your computer then uses this IP address to locate and connect to the
website.
DNS servers are operated by your Internet service provider (ISP) and are
included in your computer’s network configuration. DNS and DNS Servers are a
critical component of your computer’s operating environment—without them,
you would not be able to access websites, send e-mail, or use any other Internet
services.
Criminals have learned that if they can control a user’s DNS servers, they
can control what sites the user connects to on the Internet. By controlling DNS, a
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criminal can get an unsuspecting user to connect to a fraudulent website or to
interfere with that user’s online web browsing. One way criminals do this is by
infecting computers with a class of malicious software (malware) called
DNSChanger.
In this scenario, the criminal uses the malware to change the user’s DNS
server settings to replace the ISP’s good DNS servers with bad DNS servers
operated by the criminal. A bad DNS server operated by a criminal is referred to
as a rogue DNS server.
29.Operation Global Blackout 2012Rallied by Anonymous supporters worldwide, to attack the Domain Name
System, which converts human-friendly domain names like google.com into
numeric addresses that are more useful for computers.
It declared when the attack would be carried out: March 31. And it detailed
exactly how: by bombarding the Domain Name System with junk traffic in an
effort to overwhelm it altogether.
It was to be an attempt to shut down the Internet for a whole day
tomorrow (Saturday) by disabling its core DNS servers, making websites
inaccessible.
30.NeutrinoIt is an electrically neutral, weakly interacting elementary subatomic
particle with half-integer spin. The neutrino (meaning "small neutral one" in
Italian) is denoted by the Greek letter ν (nu).
All evidence suggests that neutrinos have mass but that their mass is tiny
even by the standards of subatomic particles. Their mass has never been
measured accurately.
Neutrinos do not carry electric charge, which means that they are not
affected by the electromagnetic forces that act on charged particles such as
electrons and protons.
Neutrinos are affected only by the weak sub-atomic force, of much shorter
range than electromagnetism, and gravity, which is relatively weak on the
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subatomic scale. They are therefore able to travel great distances through matter
without being affected by it.
Neutrinos are created as a result of certain types of radioactive decay,
or nuclear reactions such as those that take place in the Sun, in nuclear reactors,
or when cosmic rays hit atoms.
• Pauli Exclusion Principle
It is an assertion that no two electrons in an atom can be at the same time
in the same state or configuration.
It was proposed (1925) by the Austrian physicist Wolfgang Pauli to account
for the observed patterns of light emission from atoms.
The exclusion principle subsequently has been generalized to include a
whole class of particles of which the electron is only one member.
• Aufbau principle
It is the principle for the rationalization of the distribution of electrons
among energy levels in the ground (most stable) states of atoms.
The principle was formulated by the Danish physicist Niels Bohr about
1920.
According to the principle, electrons fill orbitals starting at the lowest
available (possible) energy states before filling higher states.
• Hund's Rule of Maximum Multiplicity
It is an observational rule which states that a greater total spin state usually
makes the resulting atom more stable.
Accordingly, it can be taken that if two or more orbitals of equal energy are
available, electrons will occupy them singly before filling them in pairs.
The rule, discovered by Friedrich Hund in 1925, is of important use in
atomic chemistry,spectroscopy, and quantum chemistry.
31.LukoskinA herbal product for Leucoderma developed by DRDO was launched. The
product will be a boon for the patients of Leucoderma and is backed by extensive
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R&D work by the scientists of Defence Institute of Bio-energy Research (DIBER)
(formerly Defence Agricultural Research Laboratory), Haldwani.
The ingredients for the medicine included ‘Ammi majus' which is crucial for
melanin synthesis; Psoralea corylifolia (Bakuchi), which works as a photo
sensitizer for the initiation of erythema on the spots of leucoderma; Mucuna
pruriens (Kaunch); Calotropis sps. (Arka); Aloe vera (Kumari); and Centella asiatica
(mandooparni).
The lukoskin drug regulates metabolism and improves the functioning of
the hepatocytes, thereby gradually improving the auto-immune system.
A hepatocyte is a cell of the main tissue of the liver. Hepatocytes make up
70-80% of the liver's cytoplasmic mass.
These cells are involved in: Protein synthesis, Protein storage,
Transformation of carbohydrates, Synthesis of cholesterol, bile
salts and phospholipids, Detoxification, modification, and excretion of exogenous
and endogenous substances. The hepatocyte also initiates formation and
secretion of bile.
• Defence Institute of Bio-energy Research (DIBER)
DIBER, a DRDO laboratory has carried out extensive work in the area of
medicinal plant and is also engaged in R&D in generating bio-energy solutions for
energy security. The herbal product will be available in the form of ointment and
oral liquid.
• Leucoderma or Vitiligo
Leucoderma or Vitiligo is an idiopathic acquired disorder of skin. Patients
with Vitiligo develop white spots in the skin with varying size and location.
It is a condition that causes depigmentation of sections of skin. It occurs
when melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, die or are unable
to function. It is not a disease, neither it is hereditary nor contagious.
The cause of vitiligo is unknown, but research suggests that it may arise
from autoimmune, genetic, oxidative stress, neural, or viral causes.
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The world wide incidence of leucoderma has been reported 1-2%. In India,
its incidence is around 4-5% in some parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat it is very high
more than 5-8%. This skin disorder is considered as social stigma in our country
and people confuse it with leprosy.
• Melanocyte
They are melanin-producing cells located in the bottom layer of the
skin's epidermis, the middle layer of the eye, the inner ear, meninges,
bones and heart. Melanin is a pigment that is responsible primarily for the color
of skin.
32.DNA FINGER PRINTING It is also known, as genetic Finger Printing is the technique used for
identifying the components of DNA that is unique to individuals.
The DNA profiling technique was first reported in 1984 by Sir Alec
Jeffreys at the University of Leicester in England.
DNA profiles are encrypted sets of numbers that reflect a person's DNA
makeup, which can also be used as the person's identifier. DNA profiling should
not be confused with full genome sequencing.
Full genome sequencing is a laboratory process that determines the
complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome at a single time. This entails
sequencing all of an organism’s chromosomal DNA as well as DNA contained in
the mitochondria and, for plants, in the chloroplast.
Unlike full genome sequencing, DNA profiling only determines the
likelihood that genetic material came from a particular individual or group; it does
not contain additional information on genetic relationships, origin or
susceptibility to specific diseases
It is used as a forensic technique in crime investigation especially in cases of
rape. It also helps to investigate the family relationship in animal population to
increase the extent to inbreeding by looking at the degree of variability in the
DNA profile comparing DNA patterns of parents and off spring. This helps in
preserving the endangered species.
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• Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD)
The Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) is an
autonomous organization funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT),
Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. It is in Hyderabad.
33.World Sparrow Day The World Sparrow Day (WSD) is being celebrated on 20th March across
the globe to raise public awareness about the decline of the house sparrow and
throw light on the problems faced by the species in its daily fight for survival.
The World Sparrow Day also celebrates the common biodiversity around
us. The first World Sparrow Day was celebrated on March 20, 2010 across the
globe to celebrate the beauty of the house sparrow.
34.Bacillus thuringiensisIt is a Gram-positive, soil-dwelling bacterium, commonly used as
a biological pesticide.
During sporulation, many Bt strains produce crystal proteins called δ-
endotoxins, that have insecticidal action.
This has led to their use as insecticides, and more recently to genetically
modified crops using Bt genes.
The Bt brinjal is a suite of transgenic brinjals created by inserting a crystal
protein gene (Cry1Ac) from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis into the
genome of various brinjal cultivars.
The insertion of the gene, along with other genetic elements
like promoters, terminators and an antibiotic resistance marker gene into the
brinjal plant is accomplished using mediated genetic transformation.
The Bt brinjal has been developed to give resistance
against lepidopteron insects, in particular the Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer
(Leucinodes orbonalis).
35.Tropical Legumes IITropical Legumes-II is a joint initiative of three international agricultural
research centres, viz. ICRISAT, IITA, and CIAT (International Centre for Tropical
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Agriculture) that aims to increase productivity and production of legumes and the
income of poor farmers in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
The project is expected to help small farmers overcome productivity
constraints such as drought, pest and disease problems, and unavailability and
lack of access to quality seed of improved legume varieties.
The project’s strategy is to fast track testing and adoption of existing
varieties and advanced breeding lines for use by famers; generate new farmer-
and market-preferred varieties and hybrids with desirable traits (high yields,
tolerance to moisture stress, and resistance to pests and diseases); and establish
decentralized, pro-poor seed production and delivery systems.
36.REXUS (Rocket-Borne Experiments for University Students) REXUS is part of the EU student experiment program. The rocket has been
developed and built by students from universities spread all across Europe.
The REXUS program is a joint student project between the Swedish Space
Corporation, Esrange Space Center and the Mobile Rocket Base (Moraba) of the
German Aerospace Center.
The basic idea behind REXUS is to provide an experimental space platform
for students in the field of aerospace technology.
37.F. Sherwood RowlandHe was an American Nobel laureate and a professor of chemistry at
the University of California. His best-known work was the discovery
that chlorofluorocarbons contribute to ozone depletion. He died.
In 1974, F Sherwood "Sherry" Rowland and his co-author Mario Molina,
found chlorofluorocarbons already in wide and growing usage around the world
could cause pronounced thinning of the Earth's natural ozone layer, thus
subjecting life on the planet's surface to larger doses of harmful ultraviolet (UV)
rays from the sun.
A chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) is an organic compound that
contains carbon, chlorine, and fluorine, produced as a volatile derivative
of methane and ethane.
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A common subclass is the hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which
contain hydrogen, as well. They are also commonly known by the DuPont trade
name Freon.
The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer (a
protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) is an
international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the
production of numerous substances believed to be responsible for ozone
depletion.
The treaty was opened for signature on September 16, 1987, and entered
into force on January 1, 1989, followed by a first meeting in Helsinki, May 1989.
It is believed that if the international agreement is adhered to, the ozone
layer is expected to recover by 2050.
38.Nestlé IndiaNestlé India is a subsidiary of Nestlé S.A. of Switzerland. The Company was
founded in 1866 by Henri Nestlé in Vevey, Switzerland, where our headquarters
are still located today. Nestlé is the world's leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness
Company.
Nestle began trading as The Nestlé Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company
(Export) Limited, importing and selling finished products in the Indian market.
After India's independence in 1947, the economic policies of the Indian
Government emphasised the need for local production. Nestlé responded to
India's aspirations by forming a company in India and set up its first factory in
1961 at Moga, Punjab.
• Food and Energy
Cereals: Cereals form the staple diet in India, e.g., rice, wheat, maize.
Cereals are the main source of energy, contributing 60-70% of daily energy needs.
Cereals are a source of protein, calcium, iron and B-complex vitamins. Whole-
grains (grains with the intact outer layer like in brown rice, corn) are a good
source of fibre and B-complex vitamins and should be included in daily diet.
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Pulses (legumes): Pulses are a rich source of proteins (up to 22%) and meet
the protein requirement of the vegetarians. They are also rich in B complex
vitamins. Germination (sprouting) of pulses increases the vitamin C and B group
vitamins and also improves the digestibility.
Milk and Milk Products: This category includes liquid and powdered milk,
paneer, curd, buttermilk etc. They are not only a good source of quality protein
but also calcium and riboflavin. These should be a part of everyday’s diet and
especially essential for children as they support healthy growth.
Fruits and Vegetables: these include
Roots and Tubers: these are rich in carbohydrates and are good sources of
energy and calcium. Root vegetables like carrots are a good source of vitamin
A.
Vegetables and Green Leafy Vegetables (GLV’s): vegetables add both color
and variety to the diet. They provide minerals, vitamins and fiber (which add
bulk to the diet). GLV’s are a rich source of calcium iron, vitamin A (β-
carotene), vitamin C, folic acid.
Fruits: these provide vitamins and fiber. Green, Yellow and Orange fruits
are a rich source of beta carotene. Citrus fruits, amla, and guava are rich in
vitamin C. dried fruits like dates supply iron. Seasonal fruits should be
encouraged. Fruits also contain pectins which provide bulk to the diet and
helps bowel movement.
Animal Foods: This category includes eggs, chicken, meat, fish etc. They are
a good source of high quality protein and other important nutrients. Fish is rich in
omega-3 PUFA which is protective against cardiovascular diseases and calcium as
well. A special feature in flesh foods is the presence of vitamin B12, which is
absent in plant foods.
Fats, Nuts and Oils: These are calorie-rich foods, and are useful for
increasing the energy density of foods. Fats can be the visible fats (ghee, butter,
oil) or the invisible fats (present inherently in each food). They are required in
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moderate quantities in the daily diet as they provide essential fatty acids and
promote absorption of fat soluble vitamins along with improving the palatability
of the food. However, the total calories from fat should not exceed 10-15%.
Sugars: This group includes table sugar, jaggery, honey, syrups etc which
are energy concentrates. They are the sweetening agents which should be
consumed in moderation as they provide calories but not much in the way of
nutrition. Also excessive sugar consumption has been linked to weight gain.
Protein: Human body needs three vital macronutrients to survive. These
are carbohydrates, proteins and fats. It also needs micronutrients like vitamins
and minerals, but these are required in lesser amounts. For optimal health, intake
of carbohydrates, proteins and fats should be balanced.
Protein is the body's nutritional powerhouse, a critical need for both adults
and children at every stage. Proteins are the building blocks of muscles, bones,
hormones, skin cells and tissues. It is responsible for the regeneration of body
cells. That's why it's so important for growing children and lactating women. In
adults, it helps heal wounds and recover more rapidly from injury, prevents hair
loss and weakness.
Protein helps re-build the muscle tissue. More muscle in the body helps
burn more calories and this also gives the strength and energy to work out more
vigorously. This is why weight loss is so much faster when there is adequate
protein in the diet.
High protein diets are also considered better for better diabetic control and
dyslipidemia.
But protein should never be taken when you're starving or very hungry.
This is because the body, in starvation mode, tends to convert protein into
carbohydrates, thus defeating the purpose.
Protein Content in Common FoodsFoods Protein Value
1 Egg White 6 gm35 gm (2-3 pieces) of lean meat like skinless chicken & fish 7 – 8 gm200 ml of skimmed milk 6-7 gm
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35 gm (half cup) of Paneer (Cottage Cheese) 6-7 gm35 gm of Tofu 8 gm100 gm of Cheese 30.9 gmYoghurt (100 gm) 4.5 gmAlmonds (7-8 pieces) 8 gmPeanuts (2 tsps) 8 gm
39.St. Martin's IslandIt is a small island in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km
south of the tip of the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, and forming the
southernmost part of Bangladesh.
It is about 8 km west of the northwest coast of Myanmar, at the mouth of
the Naf River. It is the only coral island in Bangladesh.
St. Martin's Island near Bangladesh is threatened by environmental
collapse.
40. Mithilanchal belt (Purnea, Araria and Supaul Districts) The fertile and chronically flood-lacerated swathe of the Mithilanchal belt
in north Bihar witnessed a watershed moment in its urban ecosystem when
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the ‘Kosi Maha Sethu' — a rail-
cum-road bridge — in Supaul district.
The bridge was destroyed in the 1934 Bihar-Nepal earthquake, dividing
Mithilanchal into two halves and reducing the entire townships to rubble and
killing tens of thousands of people.
The loss of this bridge, known as the ‘Lifeline of Mithilanchal,' had
hampered traffic and commerce for several decades.
Kosi River, also Saptakoshi for its seven Himalayan tributaries—is a trans-
boundary river flowing through Nepal and India. Some of the rivers of the
Koshi system, such as the Arun, the Sun Kosi and the Bhote Koshi, originate in
the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It is one of the largest tributaries of
the Ganges.
There are two national parks in the Koshi river basin:
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• the Sagarmatha National Park, located in eastern Nepal, containing
parts of the Himalayas and the southern half of Mount Everest;
• the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve situated on the floodplains of the
Sapta-Koshi River in eastern Nepal.
41.Jawai Bandh forests Rajasthan accords the bio-diversity rich Jawai Bandh forests in Pali district
the status of a conservation reserve.
The rich forests and the water bodies along the Jawai dam in Sumerpur
tehsil have a large presence of crocodiles. The wildlife census in 2011 had put
their number at 288.
The reserve is fifth in the category in the State. It is in the Luni river basin
close proximity of Kumbalgarh Sanctuary.
42.Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) is designed and developed by
the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur — a
constituent establishment of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR). The ‘AUV-150' was developed by a team of scientists of the Robotics and
Automation division of CSIR-CMERI under the leadership of S.N. Shome.
The ‘AUV-150,' as the prototype is named is built to operate 150 metres
under the sea. It was developed in technical collaboration with the Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur.
The performance parameters of the lab-scale model, developed by the IIT,
acted as a precursor to the prototype developed by CSIR-CMERI. The project is
sponsored by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
The cylindrical AUV is capable of independently carrying out a plethora of
underwater operations, including ocean floor-mapping, surveillance activities and
oceanographic studies, based on data gathered using its onboard sensors.
It has an onboard computer that can be pre-programmed to carry out
specific tasks, which makes it a smart vehicle endowed with the ability to devise
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its own stratagems to execute a mission. The payload and the configuration are
determined by the nature of the mission it is tasked with.
The AUV has hybrid communication channels. It uses radio frequency while
on surface, but switches to acoustic communication when submerged. The AUV
has its own power, propulsion, navigation and control systems.
For movement underwater, it locates own geographical position using
navigational sensors, while its forward-looking sonar facilitates obstacle evasion
and safe passage. For effective operation, it is equipped with navigational sensors
like the inertial navigation system, depth sonar, altimeter etc., and payload
sensors like camera, side scan sonar and the like.
It has extra roll stability, a cruising speed of up to four knots, and weighs
about 490 kg. Sea trials of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle are scheduled for
January-end.
43.Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI)CMERI is the apex R&D institute for mechanical engineering under the aegis
of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Being the only national level research institute in this field, CMERI’s
mandate is to serve industry and develop mechanical engineering technology so
that India’s dependence on foreign collaboration is substantially reduced in
strategic and economy sectors.
Besides, the institute is facilitating innovations and inventions for
establishing the claims of Indian talent in international fields where Indian
products shall ultimately compete.
Prof. (Dr.) Gautam Biswas, is the Director of CMERI-Durgapur
44.Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic FeverCrimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is caused by infection with a tick-
borne virus (Nairovirus) in the family Bunyaviridae.
The disease was first characterized in the Crimea in 1944 and given the
name Crimean hemorrhagic fever. It was then later recognized in 1969 as the
cause of illness in the Congo, thus resulting in the current name of the disease.
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Ixodid (hard) ticks, especially those of the genus, Hyalomma, are both a
reservoir and a vector for the CCHF virus. Numerous wild and domestic animals,
such as cattle, goats, sheep and hares, serve as amplifying hosts for the virus.
Transmission to humans occurs through contact with infected animal blood
or ticks. CCHF can be transmitted from one infected human to another by contact
with infectious blood or body fluids.
The first case of human infection caused by Crimean–Congo Hemorrhagic
Fever (CCHF) virus in Ahmedabad was confirmed by the Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR).
• National Institute of Virology
The National Institute of Virology is one of the major Institutes of the Indian
Council of Medical Research (ICMR). It was established at Pune, Maharashtra
State in 1952 as Virus Research Centre (VRC) under the auspices of the ICMR and
the Rockefeller Foundation (RF), USA. It was an outcome of the global programme
of the RF for investigating the Arthropod Borne viruses.
On the recommendation of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), the
VRC acquired its status of national importance and was renamed as National
Institute of Virology (NIV) in 1978.
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