CA: 20 and 21 August 2023

Daily Current Affairs 20 and 21 August 2023

Alzheimer Disease:

Why in News: 

• US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted “accelerated” approval for a drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease, developed by Biogen and Eisai and called lecanemab, another pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly, has released Alzheimer’s treatment, donanemab.

• Aducanumab is also another drug to treat Alzheimer.

• Donanemab, Lecanemaband aducanemab are monoclonal antibodies which neutralise the build up of amyloid protein in the Brain.

About Alzheimer's Disease: 

• Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that affects the brain, leading to a range of symptoms including memory loss, cognitive decline, behavioural changes, language difficulties, impaired judgment, mood swings, personality shifts, and confusion related to time and place. 

• This disease stands as the primary cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases.

Underlying Factors and Risks:

While the exact causes of Alzheimer's remain unclear, several factors have been identified as potential contributors:

• Age: The risk of developing Alzheimer's increases significantly with advancing age, primarily affecting individuals over 65.

• Genetics: Specific mutations in genes like APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 have been associated with higher susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease.

• Protein Buildup: The abnormal accumulation of amyloid-beta and tau proteins in and around brain cells is believed to be a key factor in Alzheimer's pathology. Amyloid-beta forms plaques between nerve cells, while tau forms tangles within neurons.

• Lifestyle: Lifestyle factors such as cardiovascular issues, diabetes, obesity, smoking, and a sedentary routine may contribute to the risk of developing Alzheimer's.

Diagnostic Approaches:

Diagnosing Alzheimer's involves various methods to assess cognitive function and identify brain changes:

• Cognitive and Neuropsychological Tests: These evaluate memory, problem-solving abilities, and thinking skills.

• Imaging Techniques: MRI and PET scans help visualise brain changes that are indicative of Alzheimer's.

• Biomarker Tests: Analysing cerebrospinal fluid or using amyloid PET scans can detect the presence of amyloid plaques.

Global Impact and Future Projection:

Alzheimer's disease has far-reaching effects, impacting millions worldwide:

• Approximately 55 million people are affected by Alzheimer's disease globally.

• In India, the aging population is expected to contribute to a rise in dementia cases, reaching 7.6 million individuals with dementia and Alzheimer's by 2030.

Government Unveiled Green Hydrogen Standards:

Why in News:

• The government unveiled Green hydrogen standards and included electrolysis and biomass ­based methods in its definition. 

• In a significant move for the progress of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the government has notified the Green Hydrogen Standard for India, the New and Renewable Energy Ministry said. 

• The standards outline the emission thresholds to be met for hydrogen produced to be classified as ‘Green’, i.e., from renewable sources. 

About The Mission:

Definition of Green Hydrogen (GH):

• Green Hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources, which includes methods like electrolysis or biomass conversion. 

• It does not involve the use of fossil fuels.

Emission Thresholds:

• For hydrogen to be classified as "Green," the well-to-gate emissions must not exceed 2 kg CO2 equivalent per kg of hydrogen. 

• This encompasses emissions from various stages of production, such as water treatment, electrolysis, gas purification, etc.

Nodal Authority:

• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency is responsible for accrediting agencies that will monitor, verify, and certify Green Hydrogen production projects.

About NGHM (National Green Hydrogen Mission):

The aim of NGHM is to establish India as a global hub for producing, utilising, and exporting Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.

Expected Mission Outcomes by 2030:

• GH production capacity of at least 5 million metric tons per annum.

• Addition of about 125 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity in the country.

• Abatement of nearly 50 million metric tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions.

• Cumulative reduction of over ₹1 lakh crore in fossil fuel imports.

• Creation of Over Six Lakh Jobs

• Over Rs. Eight lakh crore in total investments

Programs:

NGHM has initiated several programs to support its goals, including:

• Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme (SIGHT): This program offers financial incentives to support the transition to Green Hydrogen production.

• Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership (SHIP): This is a public-private partnership (PPP) framework focused on research and development in the field of hydrogen.

RBI's Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced  the Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit, aimed at transforming the accessibility to credit and the efficiency of lending processes.

About the Public Tech Platform:

• The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), fully own entity of RBI, has spearheaded the development of the Public Tech Platform, designed to enhance credit accessibility and lending efficiency within the financial sector. 

• By facilitating a frictionless flow of digital information to lenders, the platform aims to simplify the credit assessment process and establish an end-to-end digital ecosystem that supports the exchange of vital data.

• Currently, the data required for the credit appraisal rests with different entities like government, account aggregators etc.

Key Features of the Platform:

• Open Architecture: The platform embraces an open architecture model that fosters collaboration and interoperability among different players in the financial sector.

• Plug and Play Model: With the incorporation of open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and standards, seamless integration and interaction between participating entities are enabled.

• Efficiency and Scalability: The platform's core objective is to amplify lending efficiency, minimise costs, expedite disbursement processes, and facilitate the expansion of lending operations.

Initial Focus:

• During its initial phase, the Public Tech Platform will concentrate on enhancing credit accessibility for various credit products, including Kisan Credit Card loans, dairy loans, collateral-free MSME loans, personal loans, and home loans.

Integration and Services:

• The platform's scope encompasses the integration of several essential services, including Aadhaar e-KYC, state government land records, satellite data utilisation, PAN validation, Aadhaar e-signing, account aggregation, and more. 

• This integration aims to provide a comprehensive ecosystem that enhances the accuracy and efficiency of the credit assessment process.

Alcanivorax Borkumensis:

• It is a small bacterium that thrives on petroleum.

• Able to feed on both hydrocarbons and alkanes abundant in oil, this bacterium occurs

• naturally near oil seeps in marine environments.

• A recent study highlighted that Alcanivorax Borkumensis forms "dendritic" biofilms that reshape

• oil droplets to speed up hydrocarbon breakdown.

• Some other measures for marine oil-spill clean-up: Oilzapper and Oilivorous-S developed by

• TERI, Floating booms, Skimmers or oil scoops deployed to boats etc.

Terms in News:

Magnetars:

Why in News: 'Wolf Rayet' star is expected to produce magnetar.

• Magnetars are the most magnetic objects in the universe are formed.

• Magnetar is a type of Neutron star with a powerful magnetic field.

• Neutron star form in the supernovae that occurs when the core of the massive star collapses.

• A supernova is the explosion of a star. It is the largest explosion that takes place in space

Digital Economy :

• Digital economy is the world wide network of economic activities, commercial transactions and professional transactions that are enabled by information and communication technology.

• It can be rightly summed up as the economy based on Digital Platforms.

Dementia: 

• Dementia is an  term that refers to a group of symptoms characterised by a decline in cognitive abilities severe enough to interfere with daily functioning.

• Dementia is currently the seventh leading cause of death and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people globally.

Places in News:

Sulina Channel:

Why in News: Russia, in overnight drone strikes on August 16, targeted ports and grain storage facilities along the Danube River in Ukraine.

Location:

• The Sulina Channel is positioned in the eastern region of Romania, in close proximity to the town of Sulina. 

• This vital waterway serves as a direct linkage between the Danube River and the Black Sea.

Function:

• Serving as a distributary of the Danube River, the Sulina Channel spans a total length of 71.7 km. 

• Its critical role lies in offering ships a streamlined route to navigate between the river and the sea, with Sulina situated at the mouth of the Danube.

Navigation:

• As the primary passage for ships transitioning between the Black Sea and the Danube River, the Sulina Channel plays a pivotal navigational role. 

• Its well-maintained condition and clearly marked pathway ensure that ships can efficiently traverse the delta area, facilitating their passage from shallower waters to the deeper sections of the river.

UPSC CSE Previous Year Question 

Q. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles produce one of the following as “exhaust” (2010)

(a) NH3
(b) CH4
(c) H2O
(d) H2O2

Answer:Option (c)