Prelim Bits 19-05-2023 | UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Dengue

Developing a viable universal vaccine for dengue has remained a challenge.

• Dengue is largely accepted as an annual epidemic in several countries and it is the world’s fastest-growing vector borne disease.
• Dengue (break-bone fever) is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people.
• Spread - It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates.
• Transmission - Dengue is transmitted to humans by the Aedes mosquito species, which also spreads Chikungunya and Zika virus.
• Types - There are four serotypes of the dengue virus - DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4.
• Each virus interacts differently with antibodies in the human body and is capable of manifesting into dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome.
• Symptoms - mostly asymptomatic, but the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rash.
• Treatment - No specific treatment. Generally treated with pain medicine.
• Vaccine - Dengvaxia was the first vaccine to receive a nod in 2015, and has been licensed in 20 countries since.
• Dengvaxia - It is a live attenuated vaccine.
• WHO recommends ‘Dengvaxia’ for children aged 9 to 16 years.
• But Dengvaxia’s efficacy is limited to those with confirmed previous infections.
• Dengvaxia is not licensed in India.
• Five types of dengue vaccines are currently being investigated:

• Challenges in Vaccine development - Lack of research around different dengue types.
• The evolving ‘inimitable’ nature of the virus making vaccine development a dynamic challenge.
• Apprehensions over vaccine safety.
• Lack of funding for a disease.

References

1. The Hindu - Why is a viable dengue vaccine not yet available?
2. WHO - Dengue and Severe Dengue

Dancing girl

The Prime Minister unveils Mascot of the International Museum Expo 2023 - the Chennapatnam style dancing girl.

• The International Museum Expo is being organized as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate the 47^th International Museum Day.
• The Mascot of the International Museum Expo is a contemporized version of the Dancing Girl made of wood in the Channapattana art style.

Channapattana Toys

• Channapattana is a place in Ramanagara district in Karnataka famous for handmade lacquer wooden toys.
• The origin of the wooden toys date back to the period of Tipu Sultan.
• Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, was a great admirer of wooden toys.
• He invited artisans from Persia and trained the local artists to earn the process of making of the wooden toys.
• The artisans still follow the traditional method of making the toys, using only ivory wood for making the toys.
• Very rarely rosewood and sandalwood are used.
• Now the artisans have also started to use other woods like teak, pine, rubber and cedar wood.
• The colours used on these toys are vegetable dyes, non-toxic and safe for children.
• Channapattana toys hold GI tag under Handicrafts category.

Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro

• The 'Dancing Girl' belongs to the Indus Valley Civilization and dates back to 2500 BCE.
• The dancing girl is a sculpture made of bronze.
• The sculpture was made using the 'Lost Wax' method.
• The statue is named the 'Dancing Girl' owing to her posture, with her right hand on the back of her hip and the left hand resting on her left thigh.
• She is adorned by a necklace and some bangles.
• Presently, it is on display in the Indus Valley Civilization gallery in the National Museum, New Delhi.

References

1. PIB - PM inaugurates International Museum Expo 2023
2. Government of Karnataka - Ramanagara District
3. Indian Culture - Dancing Girl

Operation Karuna

India launched ‘Operation Karuna’ to assist Myanmar which has been devastated by Cyclone Mocha.

• Super cyclone Mocha hit Bangladesh and Myanmar causing widespread devastation.
• In Myanmar, Rakhine state is the worst-hit while in Bangladesh the Cox’s Bazar which shelters in the world’s largest refugee camp is worst-hit.
• Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring Security and Growth for All in the Region and continues to be the first responder in the region during such calamities.
• India launched 'Operation Karuna' to provide assistance to Mocha-hit Myanmar.
• Indian Naval Ships Shivalik, Camorra and Savitri were the first naval ships to arrive at Yangon with relief material.
• The fourth ship is also sent with relief material.
• The ships are carrying emergency food items, tents, essential medicines, water pumps, portable generators, clothes, sanitary and hygiene items, etc.

References

1. The Hindu - India launches ‘Operation Karuna’ to assist Myanmar
2. News On Air - Cyclone Mocha: Operation Karuna

Quantum Biology

Quantum physics proposes a new way to study biology which could revolutionise our understanding of how life works.

• Quantum biology is the application of quantum theory to aspects of biology that cannot be accurately described by the classical laws of physics.
• Electrons, protons, excitations, chemical bonds, and electronic charges are by definition quantum.
• Biology and biological processes often deal with electrons, protons and their transfer.
• The protons and electrons are continuously being transferred between different parts of a cell or a macromolecular system.
• In these transfer processes the system exchanges energy with its environment in the form of molecular vibrations and phonons.
• Such a system is called an ‘open quantum system’.
• The open quantum systems are connected to life and life processes.
• Quantum biology aims to develop a consistent open quantum systems model to explain all these phenomena.
• With open quantum system and quantum mechanics, there is a scope to understand life and life processes.

References

1. The Hindu - Quantum physics proposes a new way to study biology
2. The Royal Society - The future of quantum biology

Sendai Framework

India and Japan organized a side event during the High-level meeting of the midterm review of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015-2030.

India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) participated in the Risk Reduction Hub Event held at UN headquarters in New York.

• The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai Framework) is an international document on disaster risk reduction.
• The framework provides Member States with concrete actions to protect development gains from the risk of disaster.
• It was adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, in 2015.
• It is the successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015.
• The Sendai Framework outlines 4 specific priorities of action and 7 global targets to guide and against which to assess progress.
• It focuses on the adoption of measures which address the 3 dimensions of disaster risk in order to prevent the creation of new risk, reduce existing risk and increase resilience.
• UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) supports the implementation, follow-up and review of the Sendai Framework.

The 3 dimensions of disaster risk are exposure to hazards, vulnerability and capacity, and hazard’s characteristics.

References

1. PIB - Midterm review of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
2. UNDRR - Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030