Subject: Science and tech Context: There have been considerable discussions in scientific circles on the importance of vitamin D in these days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Concept: Vitamins are organic compounds that are essential in very small amounts for supporting normal physiologic function. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: A study has found evidence that confirms vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus from the mother to the foetus. Concept: In horizontal transmission, viruses are transmitted among individuals of the same generation, while vertical transmission occurs from mothers to their offspring. Vertical transmission refers to the transmission of an infection from […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: Itolizumab, a monoclonal antibody used to treat acute psoriasis has got regulatory approval to treat cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome patients due to COVID-19. Concept: Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes red, itchy scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: Recent study found that herd immunity threshold (HIT) required to prevent a resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is in excess of 50 per cent for any epidemiological setting. Concept: Herd immunity happens when so many people in a community become immune to an infectious disease that it stops the disease from spreading. This […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: Researchers at the Cancer Institute, Chennai (WIA) have identified a panel of five protein markers in the blood that can help with an early diagnosis of a common and lethal form of ovarian cancer. Concept: Biomarker is a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal […]
Subject: Science and tech/ Economy Context: Farmers all over India are severely affected by pests. Concept: The continuous onslaught of desert locusts swarms has ravaged his early-stage bajra crop. The pesky invaders from Iran and Pakistan have also seriously damaged moong and guar fields. As if the locust’s menace, which is the worst since 1993, […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: Reliance plans to build home-grown 5G network solution based on an open source telecom platform called Open RAN. Concept: A radio access network (RAN) is the part of a telecommunications system that connects individual devices to other parts of a network through radio connections. A RAN resides between user equipment, such as […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: COVID vaccines mRNA-1273 ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 are currently in human trials. Concept: Vaccines contain the same germs that cause disease. (For example, measles vaccine contains measles virus) But they have been either killed or weakened to the point that they don’t make people sick. Some vaccines contain only a part of the disease […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: Itolizumab and Tocilizumab which are not yet been proven effective beyond doubt in reducing Covid-19 deathsare being considered for averting a cytokine storm in Covid patients. Concept: A cytokine storm is the hyper-reaction of the immune system, which then starts attacking the patient’s own organs and can prove fatal. Cytokines […]
Subject: Science and tech Context: Recent research found that immunity developed by the formation of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 lasts only a few months, and recovered Covid-19 patients are likely to remain susceptible and could get re-infected. Findings: The analysis found “a potent” level of antibodies produced in 60% of participants during the peak of their […]