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Current Affairs – 8 May 2024

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Current Affairs – 8 May 2024

West Nile Fever

Kerala’s health department recently reported West Nile fever cases in three districts.

  • Cause: West Nile Fever is caused by the West Nile Virus (WNV), a member of the flavivirus genus in the family Flaviviridae.
  • Natural Hosts: Birds serve as the natural hosts for WNV.
  • Distribution: Commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and West Asia.
  • Transmission:
    • Primarily spread to humans via the bite of infected mosquitoes.
    • Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on infected birds.
    • Rare cases of transmission through organ transplants have been documented.
  • Human-to-Human Transmission: No evidence supports direct transmission from person to person.
  • Symptoms:
    • Many infected individuals are asymptomatic.
    • Common symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea, vomiting, occasional skin rash, and swollen lymph glands.
    • Severe cases (neuroinvasive disease) exhibit symptoms like high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis.
  • Treatment:
    • No specific medicine or vaccine available for WNV.
    • Supportive care is the primary approach, involving hospitalization, intravenous fluids, respiratory support, and prevention of secondary infections.

Spektr-RG (SRG)

Astronomers report the discovery of a new pulsar using the Spektr-RG space observatory.

  • Mission Name: Spektr-Rentgen-Gamma (Spektr-RG, SRG)
  • Objective: Study the universe in the X-ray range of electromagnetic radiation.
  • Launch Date: July 13, 2019.
  • Launch Vehicle: Proton-M rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.
  • Orbit:
    • Moves along a halo orbit around the outer Lagrange point (L2) of the Sun-Earth system.
    • Orbiting at a distance of 1.5 million km from Earth.
    • Orbital period approximately 6 months.
  • Lagrange Point:
    • Position in space where the gravitational pull of two large masses equals the centripetal force required for a small object to move with them.
  • Instruments:
    • eROSITA:
      • Primary instrument built by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE), Germany.
      • Conducts a seven-year X-ray survey.
      • Focuses on medium X-ray band (less than 10 keV energies).
      • Aims to map an estimated 100,000 galaxy clusters.
      • Expected to detect new clusters of galaxies and active galactic nuclei.
    • ART-XC:
      • Russian high-energy X-ray telescope.
      • Capable of detecting supermassive black holes.
      • Intended to replace Spektr-R, also known as the “Russian Hubble,” which was launched in 2011 to observe black holes, neutron stars, and magnetic fields, aiding in the understanding of cosmic expansion.

Glyptothorax punyabratai

Recently, the ICAR-NBFGR discovered a new catfish species in the pristine waters of Arunachal Pradesh, India and named it as Glyptothorax punyabratai.

  • Species Name: Glyptothorax punyabratai
  • Collection Location: Tung Stream, a tributary of the Tissa River, in the Brahmaputra River basin.
  • Description: A newly discovered catfish species.

Key Facts about Catfish:

  • Diversity: Represent one of the largest groups of freshwater fishes, with over 2000 species.
  • Habitat: Primarily found in freshwater, though a few species are marine.
  • Behavior: Most species are nocturnal.
  • Feeding Habits: Primarily benthic or bottom-dwellers.

Features:

  • Body Shape: Typically cylindrical with a flattened ventral region to facilitate benthic feeding.
  • Barbels: Long barbels, or feelers, around the mouth resemble cat whiskers, hence the name “catfish”.
  • Spines: Most catfish have leading spines in their dorsal and pectoral fins.
  • Scalelessness: Catfish are scaleless, a distinguishing characteristic setting them apart from other fish species.

Leber Congenital Amaurosis

Researchers have used a CRISPR-Cas9 tool to restore vision in a group of adults and children with congenital blindness known as Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA).

  • Condition: Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) is a rare genetic eye disorder.
    • Infants affected by LCA are typically blind at birth due to dysfunctional light-gathering cells (rods and cones) in the retina.
    • Caused by a gene mutation affecting the protein CEP290 critical for sight.
    • Affects about one in 40,000 people, leading to severe vision loss early in life.

Recent Development:

  • Study Name: “BRILLIANCE”
  • Treatment: Utilized a human gene editing tool called CRISPR-Cas9.
  • Therapy: Participants received a single dose of CRISPR gene therapy named EDIT-101.
  • Mechanism:
    • EDIT-101 targets the mutation in the CEP290 gene.
    • It cuts out the defective portion of the gene and replaces it with a healthy strand of DNA.
    • This process restores the normal function of the CEP290 protein, enabling the retina to detect light.

CRISPR-Cas9:

  • Definition: A technology enabling geneticists and medical researchers to edit sections of the genome.
  • Capabilities: Allows for the removal, addition, or alteration of DNA sequences.
  • Usage: Widely used in genetic research and potential therapies for various genetic disorders, including LCA
 

India Employment Report, 2024

India is likely to have a demographic advantage for at least another decade according to India Employment Report 2024.

  • It is the 3rd in the series of publication.
  • Published by – The Institute for Human Development on labour and employment issues and International Labour Organization.
  • Tagline – Youth employment, education and skills.
  • Aim – To examine the challenge of youth employment with respect to emerging economic, labour market, educational & skills scenarios and the changes witnessed over the past 2 decades in India.
  • Data source – Largely on the Employment and Unemployment Surveys (EUS) and Periodic Labour Force Surveys (PLFS), conducted by NSSO.
  • Analysis – It compares 4 years: 2000, 2012, 2019, and 2022.
  • Findings – Unemployment and underemployment rates increased till 2018 but declined thereafter.
    • Unemployment rate declined from 6% in 2018 to 3.2% in 2023
    • Youth unemployment rate fall from 17.8% to 10% in 2023
  • The employment quality, as per Employment Condition Index, has improved in all states, albeit differently.
  • Increase in the share of non-farm employment (and decline in agriculture employment) between 2000 and 2019, implies a movement towards the structural transformation of the economy.
  • A steady increase in regular employment & decline in unorganised sector employment which was halted during the Covid period.
  • In comparison to the wages of regular workers, the wages of casual workers increased even during 2019-22.
  • Increase in the female workforce participation (FWFP) rate from 24.5% in 2019 to 37.0 in 2023.

                            IndiaDevelopmentReport2024

  • Challenges – The employment pattern remains skewed towards agriculture (around 46.6% workers higher than in 2019).
  • The production process has been increasingly becoming capital and skill-intensive, leading to distortions in the labour market.
  • Despite an increase in educational attainments, unskilled and semi-skilled workers abound.
  • Women’s participation is still low and they remain largely engaged in somewhat less remunerative jobs.
  • Educated youth, who account for nearly two-thirds of total unemployment.
  • Unemployment rate rises with a rise in education levels, 28% among graduates and above (the proportion of women being higher).
  • The proportion of youth not in employment, education and training (NEET) is quite high at around 28% in 2022, with the share of females being around 5 times more than males.
  • Over 90% employment is informal, and 83% are in informal sector.

Manipur Launches “School on Wheels” Initiative for Students in Relief Camps

In response to ethnic strife and natural disasters, Manipur launches the “School on Wheels” program, delivering education to students in relief camps.

  • Initiative Name: “School on Wheels”
    • Introduced by the government of Manipur.
    • Aims to provide education to students sheltered in relief camps across the state.
  • Inauguration:
    • Inaugurated by Governor Anusuiya Uikey.
    • Governor emphasizes the importance of addressing the educational gap caused by ethnic strife and displacement.
  • Program Details:
    • Mobile educational setup equipped with a library, computers, and sports items.
    • Accompanied by a teacher, the setup will visit various relief camps.
  • Educational Gap Addressed:
    • Initiative aims to bridge the educational gap caused by year-long ethnic conflict and displacement.
    • Focuses on providing essential education to impacted students.
  • Empathy and Support:
    • Governor acknowledges the plight of displaced individuals.
    • Pledges support by directing state authorities to facilitate permanent settlement processes for those in relief camps.
  • Comprehensive Approach:
    • Initiative not only provides immediate educational support but also works towards long-term solutions for affected communities.

Scientists Unveil World’s Deepest Blue Hole in Mexico

Researchers have identified the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole in Mexico as the deepest on record, reaching 1,380 feet. This abyss presents an intriguing opportunity for exploration.

  • Discovery:
    • Taam Ja’ Blue Hole in Mexico’s Chetumal Bay identified as the deepest known blue hole on Earth.
    • Depth measured at 1,380 feet, surpassing the previous record-holder by 480 feet.
  • Scientific Exploration:
    • Initial depth readings in 2021 reached 900 feet with echo-sounders.
    • Recent dive equipped with advanced technology, including a CTD profiler, provided deeper insights.
    • Researchers encountered possible obstacles at 1,380 feet, unable to reach the bottom.
  • Structural Complexity:
    • Enigmatic depth raises questions about the structure and potential interconnectedness of underground cave systems within the blue hole.
  • Potential for New Marine Life:
    • Speculation about undiscovered life forms adapted to extreme conditions in the depths of the blue hole.
    • Hypothesis suggests a network of caves and passages teeming with unseen marine life.
  • Insights into Extreme Environments:
    • Comparison drawn to discoveries in blue holes in the Bahamas, where distinctive bacteria were found thriving in darkness.
    • Indicates potential insights into life beyond Earth.
  • Challenges and Future Exploration:
    • Challenges include absence of oxygen and presence of hazardous gases, requiring specialized equipment and expertise.
    • Scientists determined to explore further to unravel mysteries and uncover secrets of Earth’s profound marine ecosystems.