Daily Current Affairs Prelims 07 May 2024

• Fusobacterium nucleatum, a bacterium commonly found in the human mouth, has been linked to colorectal cancer (CRC) tumours.
• Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in the U.S. identified a subtype, Fusobacterium nucleatum animalis (Fna), particularly prevalent in CRC tumours.
• They discovered two clades within this subtype, Fna C1 and Fna C2, with Fna C2 showing a significant association with CRC tumours and an ability to thrive in acidic conditions similar to stomach acid, thanks to specific acid-resistant genes.
• Despite the decline in overall CRC incidence worldwide, the rate of early-onset CRC has alarmingly increased by 2-4% annually in many countries.
• India has seen a 20% increase in CRC from 2004 to 2014. The development of a drug targeting Fna C2, while sparing other critical gut bacteria presents a significant challenge.

Dig Deeper: What are Gram Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria’s?

• The Supreme Court of India extended the constitutional rights to life (Article 21) and equality (Article 14), to the right to be free of ill effects of climate change.
• The choice was between promoting solar power generation and protecting the Great Indian Bustard.
• The Supreme Court recalled the injunction on new overhead transmission lines, mandating that future low-voltage lines be underground.
• The Court called for a balanced approach, directing the establishment of an expert committee to explore the feasibility of undergrounding power lines and the effectiveness of bird diverters.

Dig Deeper: Read Maneka Gandhi Case (1978) which allowed wider interpretation of Article 21

• Carbon Farming is implementing regenerative agricultural practices that restore ecosystem health while improving agricultural productivity and soil health and mitigating climate change by enhancing carbon storage in agricultural landscapes and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Carbon Farming techniques like:
• Agroforestry practices such as silvopasture and alley cropping diversify farm income by sequestering carbon. Conservation agriculture techniques like zero tillage and crop rotation enhance soil organic content and minimise disturbance, vital in intensive farming areas.
• Integrated nutrient management using organic inputs improves soil fertility and reduces emissions. Livestock management techniques, including rotational grazing and optimizing feed, decrease methane emissions and increase carbon storage in pastures.
• It is most effective in regions with long growing seasons and sufficient rainfall, particularly through agroforestry and conservation agriculture.
• Challenges arise in arid areas with limited water, where practices like cover cropping may not be viable. The choice of plant species is also crucial, as not all are equally effective at sequestering carbon.
• Financial constraints can hinder the adoption of carbon farming.

Dig Deeper:  What is Carbon Fertilisation and Carbon Sequestration?

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive technique that captures images of soft tissues within the body, such as the brain, cardiovascular system, spinal cord, muscles, liver, and arteries.
• It’s pivotal for diagnosing and monitoring conditions like Alzheimer’s, dementia, epilepsy, stroke, and specific cancers including prostate and rectal cancer.
• MRI operates using a powerful superconducting magnet housed within a large, donut-shaped machine. This magnet aligns hydrogen atoms in body tissues, which are abundant in fat and water.
• During a scan, a radiofrequency pulse targets these atoms, causing them to emit signals that are converted into detailed 2D or 3D images by a computer.
• Functional MRI, a variation of the technique, assesses changes in blood flow to study brain activity.
• However, the strong magnetic fields generated by MRI machines may prevent individuals with metallic implants like pacemakers or embedded objects like shrapnel from undergoing this procedure.
• While MRI is generally safe and lacks long-term adverse effects, its safety for pregnant women remains uncertain.

Dig Deeper: What is Computed Tomography?

• Germany has temporarily recalled its Russian Ambassador after members of the ruling party were allegedly targeted by a Russian cyberattack group APT28.
• APT28 is controlled by Russia’s military intelligence according to the German investigation.
• APT28, also known as Fancy Bear, has been accused of dozens of cyberattacks in countries around the world.

Dig Deeper: What is the Cyber security infrastructure of India?

• The volatility indicator soared 13.6% to 16.6%, registering its biggest single-day rise in more than a year amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
• India VIX is a volatility index computed by the NSE based on the order book of NIFTY Options contracts. It takes best bid-ask quotes of near and Next-month NIFTY options contracts which are traded in the F&O segment.
• A volatility figure is calculated in percentage which indicates the expected market volatility over the next 30 calendar days.
• Volatility is often described as the ‘rate and magnitude of changes in prices’ and in finance often referred to as risk.

Dig Deeper: What are different settlement cycles of T+1, T+2 in Stock market?