Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon ((Science & Technology) – September 3, 2020

The World Medical Association (WMA) has developed the Declaration of Helsinki as a statement of ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects, including research on identifiable human material and data.

• The Declaration of Geneva of the WMA binds the physician with the words, “The health of my patient will be my first consideration,” and the International Code of Medical Ethics declares that, “A physician shall act in the patient’s best interest when providing medical care.”
• It is the duty of the physician to promote and safeguard the health, well-being and rights of patients, including those who are involved in medical research.
• The physician’s knowledge and conscience are dedicated to the fulfillment of this duty.
• Medical progress is based on research that ultimately must include studies involving human subjects.

Gagandeep Kang, 56, is Director of the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in Faridabad.

Acclaimed for her key role in the development of Rotavac, India’s first indigenously developed vaccine for rotavirus infections, Kang was recently awarded Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS), United Kingdom — the first Indian woman scientist to be thus feted.

Researchers at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, have developed an ultrasensitive quantum thermometer using graphene quantum dots.

• The thermometer can precisely measure a wide range of temperature: 27 degree C to –196 degree C.
• The thermometer has high sensitivity when measuring different temperatures and can measure very minute (micro Kelvin) changes in temperature.
• The thermometer showed extremely quick response time of just about 300 milliseconds to register a change in temperature from 27 degree C to –196 degree C.
• The device can find widespread applications in cryogenic temperature sensing.
• Since the sensor has high sensitivity and ability to measure minute changes in temperature, it will be useful in the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare to measure the incubation temperature of biological cells and molecules and the automobile industry to measure the ignition temperature within the engine.

Mangoes are seasonal fruits, and both are high on fibre. The former has vitamin A (a precursor to beta carotene and is antioxidant-rich) and C that helps build immunity.

Banana is one of the easiest snacks to consume: it ‘pre-packaged’ with B6, magnesium and potassium.

Red wine is made from grapes that contain an antioxidant resveratrol that is good for the heart.

HELINA is an acronym for Helicopter Launched Nag missile.

• Nag is a third generation Anti-Tank guided missile indigenously developed under ―Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) of DRDO.
• Anti-Tank Guided Missiles are primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armored military vehicles.
• Helina is the helicopter launch variant of Nag, which can be fired from Dhruv advanced light helicopter and HAL Rudra attack helicopter.

The consortium led by Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) is implementing the Facilitating Offshore Wind in India (FOWIND) project.

• National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) joined the consortium as knowledge partner on 15 June 2015.
• It was formed in response to a project proposal call under the Indo-European co-operation on Renewable Energy Program and is funded through a grant from European Union.
• In close consultation with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and State governments, this project will facilitate offshore wind power development in India and in turn contribute to India’s transition towards use of clean technologies in the power sector.
• The project focuses on the States of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu for identification of potential zones for development through techno-commercial analysis and preliminary resource assessment.
• It will also establish a platform for structural collaboration and knowledge sharing between stakeholders from European Union and India, on offshore wind technology, policy, regulation, industry and human resource development.
• FOWIND activities will also help facilitate a platform to stimulate offshore wind related R&D activities in the country.

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is the first detector of its kind, designed to observe the cosmos from deep within the South Pole ice.

• An international group of scientists responsible for the scientific research makes up the IceCube Collaboration.
• Encompassing a cubic kilometer of ice, IceCube searches for nearly mass-less subatomic particles called neutrinos.
• These high-energy astronomical messengers provide information to probe the most violent astrophysical sources: events like exploding stars, gamma-ray bursts, and cataclysmic phenomena involving black holes and neutron stars.

The Government of India has notified the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights (Recognition and Reward from the Gene Fund) Rules, 2012, whereby a farmer who is engaged in the conservation of genetic resources of land races and wild relatives of economic plants and their improvement through selection and preservation shall be entitled to “Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Reward & Farmer Recognition” along with cash prize from National Gene Fund.

There are 10 rewards each comprising of citation, memento and cash of Rs. One and half lakh each and 20 recognitions each consisting of a cash prize of Rs. One Lakh, citation and memento in a year.

The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India was set up in March 2000 with the assistance of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

• It is India’s national initiative to strengthen the grassroots technological innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge.
• Its mission is to help India become a creative and knowledge-based society by expanding policy and institutional space for grassroots technological innovators.

‘Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research’ (INSPIRE) scheme is one of the flagship programmes of Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India.

• The INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge), being executed by DST with National Innovation Foundation – India (NIF), an autonomous body of DST, aims to motivate students in the age group of 10-15 years and studying in classes 6 to 10.
• The objective of the scheme is to target one million original ideas/innovations rooted in science and societal applications to foster a culture of creativity and innovative thinking among school children.
• Under this scheme, schools can nominate 2-3 best innovative ideas online through this website. The online nominations for 2019-20 are open till 31st August, 2019.